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MORTH   CAROLINA 


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94713 

This  book  may  be  kept  out  TWO  WEEKS 
ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  FIVE 
CENTS   a   day   thereafter.   It   is   due   on   the 

dav  indicated   below: 


'un'SiX 

30lun'55Y 

?2Jul'573 

7Mar'5§f 
30Apr58< 

iAR  1  7 1965 


vj  — 


JUNl  8 


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1993 


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in  2009  with  funding  from 

NCSU  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/beehuntingbookofOOIock 


BEE  HUNTING 


A  BOOK   OF  VALUABLE  INFORMATION 

FOR  BEE  HUNTERS— TELL  HOW  TO 

LINE  BEES  TO  TREES,  ETC. 


BY 

JOHH  R.  LOCKARD 


Published  by 
A.  R.  HARDING,  Publisher 
Columbus,  Ohio 


Copyright  1908 
By  A.  R.  HARDING  PUB.  CO. 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  Page 

I.     Bee  Hunting    11 

11.     Early  Spring  Hunting 22 

III.  Bees  Watering— How  to  Find  Them 25 

IV.  Hunting   Bees    fronx   Sumac    28 

V.  Hunting  Bees  from  Buckwheat 30 

VI.  Fall  Hunting   33 

VII.  Improved  Method  of  Burning 35 

VIII.  Facts  About  Line  of  Flight 43 

IX.  Baits  and  Scents   48 

X.  Cutting  the  Tree  and  Transferring 52 

XI.  Customs  and  Ownership  of  Wild  Bees 60 

XII.  Benefactors  and  Their  Inventions 63 

XIII.  Bee  Keeping  for  Profit 66 


94713 


SOME  MEMORIES  OF  BEE  HUNTING 


I  WAS  born  in  a  little  valley,  hemmed  in  by- 
mountains  running  north  and  south  on  either 
side.  It  varies  in  width  from  one  to  three 
miles  from  the  foot  of  one  range  to  the  other. 
From  mv  home  I  have  a  clear  view  of  these  beau- 
tiful mountams  ana,  as  tnese  mountains  and  low- 
lands teemed  with  game  of  all  kind,  and  being 
heavily  timbered,  made  an  ideal  location  for  the 
home  of  the  wild  bee.  From  early  youth  I  loved 
to  lure  the  wild  turkey,  stalk  the  deer  and  line 
the  bee  to  his  home.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  after 
forty  years  of  undiminished  passion  for  sports 
of  this  kind  that  I  can  truthfully  say  there  is 
scarcely  a  square  rod  of  these  mountains  that  is 
not  indelibly  impressed  on  my  mind  in  connection 
with  some  of  the  above  mentioned  sports  or  pas- 
times? I  will  confine  myself  in  this  work  to  the 
subject  of  Bee  Hunting,  believing  it  to  be  one  of 
the  most  fascinating  and  beneficial  of  pastimes. 


PREFACE 


IN  THE  preparation  of  this  work,  it  has  been 
my  aim  to  instruct  the  beginner  in  the  art 
of  bee  hunting,  rather  than  offer  suggestions 
to  those  who  have  served  an  apprenticeship 
at  the  fascinating  pastime.  I  do  not  wish  to 
leave  the  impression  that  I  think  others  who  have 
made  this  a  study  do  not  know  enough  on  the  sub- 
ject to  give  suggestions;  far  from  it.  But  to  be 
candid  with  each  other,  as  lovers  of  nature  and 
her  ways  should  be,  even  though  we  be  veterans 
in  the  business,  by  an  exchange  of  ideas  we  can 
always  learn  something  new  and  of  value.  Many 
books  on  sports  of  various  kinds  have  been  writ- 
ten, but  outside  of  an  occasional  article  in  peri- 
odicals devoted  to  bee  literature,  but  little  has 
been  written  on  the  subject  of  bee  hunting.  There- 
fore, I  have  tried,  in  this  volume.  Bee  Hunting 
for  Pleasure  and  Profit,  to  give  a  work  in  compact 
form,  the  product  of  what  I  have  learned  along 

D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 

North  Carolina  State  College 


10  PREFACE 

this  line  during  the  forty  years  in  nature's  school 
room. 

Brother,  if  in  reading  these  pages  you  find 
something  that  will  be  of  value  to  you,  something 
that  will  inculcate  a  desire  for  manly  pastime  and 
make  your  life  brighter,  then  my  aim  will  have 
been  reached. 

I  am  very  truly  yours, 

JOHN  R   LOCKARD. 


BEE  HUNTING 


CHAPTER  I. 

AN   OLD  BEE   HUNTER. 

The  bee  hunters  in  my  early  days  used  one  of 
two  methods  in  hunting  the  bee.  The  hunter 
would  select  a  clear  day,  generally  during  buck- 
wheat bloom,  and  after  determining  on  a  course, 
sun  them  to  the  tree.  This  was  done  by  placing 
the  hat  or  hand  between  the  eye  and  sun  as 
close  to  the  light  as  the  eye  would  permit.  If  the 
hunter  knew  the  difference  between  the  flight  of 
a  loaded  bee  and  an  unloaded  one  he  would  keep 
on  the  course  until  the  tree  was  located. 

This  method  must  undoubtedly  be  injurious 
to  the  eyes  and  I  do  not  follow  this  plan  nor  ad- 
vise others  to  do  so.  The  other  method  was  what 
was  termed  burning  or  baiting.  A  fire  was  built 
near  where  the  bee  tree  was  supposed  to  be, 
large  flat  sand  stones  were  placed  on  the  fire  and 


12  BEE  HUNTING. 

heated.  One  of  these  was  removed  to  some  place 
clear  of  trees  and  underbrush,  some  bee-comb, 
dampened  with  water,  was  then  placed  on  the 
stone,  and  when  the  fumes  of  the  comb  would  go 
off  into  the  air  any  bees  flying  near  were  apt  to 
be  enticed  to  the  bait,  which  was  sprinkled  on  a 
bunch  of  bushes  and  laid  near  the  stone.  Many 
bees  were  found  in  this  way,  but  if  they  went  any 
great  distance  two  or  more  fires  had  to  be  built. 
This  would  require  much  time  and  often  the 
hunter,  not  being  careful  in  extinguishing  the 
fire,  the  surrounding  leaves  would  catch  fire  and 
a  destructive  forest  fire  would  result.  Therefore 
it  shall  be  my  aim  to  eliminate  anything  of  an 
injurious  or  objectionable  nature  in  the  work  I 
lay  before  the  reader. 

On  a  calm  morning  in  the  early  part  of  Novem- 
ber, I  went  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  west  of  my 
home.  The  day  was  an  ideal  one.  The  trees  had 
shed  their  leaves,  making  a  thick  carpet  over  the 
earth.  It  seemed  that  all  nature  was  getting 
ready  for  a  long  winter  sleep.  All  flowers  except 
a  few  bunches  of  mountain  goldenrod  were  dead. 
The  bees  seemed  to  be  aware  that  their  labors 
were  about  ended  and  were  eagerly  looking  for 


AN   OLD  BEE   HUNTER.  13 

anything  in  shape  of  sweets  that  would  add  to 
their  store  of  supplies  and  thus  help  to  tide  over 
the  long  winter.  After  arriving  at  the  top  of  the 
mountain  I  built  a  fire,  heated  a  large  flat  stone 
and  took  some  bee  comb  and  proceeded  to  follow 
the  example  before  mentioned.  After  watching 
quite  a  long  time  and  not  seeing  any  bees  I  was 
on  the  point  of  giving  it  up,  at  this  place  at  least, 
when  that  sound  so  delightful  to  the  ear  of  the 
bee  hunter,  the  silvery  tone  of  the  bee  in  flight, 
came  to  my  ear.  Several  times  the  sound  was 
repeated  but  so  far  I  had  not  got  a  sight  of  it.  On 
looking  over  the  top  of  the  bushes  I  saw  two  bees 
flying  slowly,  sometimes  coming  near  the  bait, 
then  darting  away,  then  returning  and  finally  set- 
tling down  on  the  bait.  All  was  anxiety !  I  must 
be  sure  to  see  these  two  bees  take  their  homeward 
flight.  In  a  very  short  time  one  of  them  slowly 
raised  from  the  bait,  circled  a  time  or  two,  and 
then  darted  away  so  quickly  that  I  knew  not 
where.  Now  the  other  one  won't  escape  me  so 
easily.  But  when  I  turned  to  look,  she,  too,  was 
gone.  In  a  short  time  they  were  back  and  lots 
of  others  close  behind.  In  a  half  hour  there  must 
have  been  a  quart  of  bees  on  the  bait.    By  this 


14  BEE    HUNTING. 

time  I  had  seen  a  number  of  bees  fly  due  west  and 
some  due  east.  So  taking  another  hot  stone  and 
going  some  distance  on  the  course  west,  I  put  the 
stone  down,  burnt  more  comb,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes had  lots  of  bees.  They  still  continued  west- 
ward. The  next  time  I  stopped  where  a  swamp 
extended  from  the  top  of  the  mountain  back  some 
two  hundred  yards.  There  were  many  large  gum 
trees  growing  in  this  swamp.  After  a  while  I 
was  convinced  that  the  bees  flew  at  right  angles 
from  the  former  course.  Leaving  the  bait  I  went 
into  the  swamp  and  found  them  going  into  a  large 
gum  tree  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  My 
spirits  were  high,  this  being  the  first  bee  I  had 
ever  found  entirely  by  myself.  Taking  out  my 
knife  and  going  up  to  the  tree  to  put  my  initials 
thereon,  my  spirits  fell  as  suddenly  as  they  had 
risen.  There  in  plain  view  were  the  letters  I.  W. 
The  spirit  of  selfishness  then  showed  itself.  What 
right  had  anyone  to  take  this  bee  from  me  ?  I  had 
almost  come  to  the  point  of  thinking  I  had  a 
monopoly  in  the  bee  hunting  business  and  that 
others  had  no  right  to  intrude.  I  trust  others  do 
not  show  this  spirit  and  am  sure  I  have  got  rid  of 
it  myself.    If  there  is  any  pleasure  or  benefit  to 


AN   OLD  BEE    HUNTER.  15 

be  derived  from  anything,  God  certainly  intends 
it  for  all.  The  initials  would  not  correspond  with 
the  name  of  anyone  I  knew,  but  supposed  that 
some  time  I  would  find  out  who  I.  W.  was.  Now 
the  bee  that  flew  east  could  be  looked  for,  but 
what  was  the  use?  Hadn't  the  best  bee  hunters 
in  the  country  tried  to  find  it  and  failed  ?  Beyond 
a  certain  point  all  trees  disappeared.  This  was 
the  only  Italian  bee  known  to  be  in  a  radius  of  ten 
miles  and  it  was  not  a  great  while  after  their  in- 
troduction into  this  country.  So  taking  my  way 
to  the  top  of  the  mountain  near  the  edge  of  the 
swamp,  I  was  surprised  to  find  a  cabin,  and  from 
indication  it  had  just  been  built.  On  going  up  to 
the  door  my  eye  fell  on  the  occupant,  a  man  well 
up  in  years.  In  one  corner  was  a  number  of  steel 
traps.  In  another  a  rifle  of  the  then  modern  type. 
These  signs  told  me  that  a  new  hunter  had  taken 
up  his  abode  among  us.  He  told  me  to  be  seated 
and  moved  over  on  the  rude  bench  to  make  room 
for  me.  He  began  by  asking  me  what  I  was  doing 
out  on  the  mountain,  and  as  I  was  so  young,  no 
doubt  had  an  idea  that  I  was  lost. 

I  told  him  that  I  was  bee  hunting  and  had 
found  one  but  some  one  had  found  it  before  I  had, 


16  BEE  HUNTING. 

and  that  the  initials  I.  W.  were  cut  on  the  tree. 
Turning  to  me  he  said,  *'You  don't  know  who  that 
stands  for?  Well,  young  man,  I  kin  tell  you.  I. 
W.  stands  for  Ike  Ward,  and  that's  me.  The  little 
fellers  come  sippin'  around  my  cabin  and  I  give 
'em  a  little  sweet  water  and  found  'em  in  a  jiffy." 
I  then  told  him  of  the  Italian  bee.  He  asked  me 
why  I  didn't  find  it.  The  reply  was  that  the  very 
best  bee  hunters  in  the  country  had  tried  it  and 
failed  and  I  supposed  it  would  be  of  no  use  for  me 
to  try  it.  "Well,  they  must  be  great  bee  hunters ; 
why,  young  man,  I  would  rather  undertake  to  find 
a  bee  than  ketch  a  rabbit  in  a  good  trackin'  snow. 
The  rabbit  might  jump  up  and  run  away,  but 
after  I  get  my  bee  started,  he's  mine."  It  was  get- 
ting well  along  in  the  afternoon  and  I  told  him  I 
must  go  home.  "Well,  your  folks  might  think 
something  has  happened  to  you  and  I  won't  ask 
ye  to  stay  any  longer ;  but  come  up  again  and  we 
will  find  that  yaller  bee."  I  thanked  him  and 
asked  when  it  would  suit  him  to  go.  "You  kin 
come  any  time  you  keer  to,  but  ye'd  better  come 
early  when  you  do  come,  fer  I  might  be  out 
scoutin'  round  and  not  be  home."  That  proposed 
bee  hunt  was  the  only  thing  thought  of  on  my 


AN  OLD  BEE  HUNTER.  17 

way  home,  the  only  thought  that  went  with  me 
to  my  bed,  and  in  my  dreams  I  saw  the  most 
beautiful  yellow  bees  in  the  world  on  combs  of 
snowy  whiteness,  some  of  them  as  large  as  a  door. 

Early  the  next  morning,  before  the  sun  had 
shown  himself  to  the  people  down  in  the  valley,  I 
was  far  on  my  way  up  the  mountain  on  my  way  to 
the  hunter's  cabin.  Great  drops  of  sweat  were 
standing  all  over  my  face,  but  I  never  slackened 
my  pace  until  I  heard  the  cheering  "Good  morn- 
ing" from  the  old  hunter  at  the  cabin.  "Jist  come 
and  rest  yerself.  It's  a  little  too  early  fer  bees  to 
fly  yit."  I  replied  that  I  wasn't  tired.  ''When  I 
was  your  age  I  didn't  get  tired  either,  but  if  you 
get  to  be  as  old  as  me  you  won't  walk  so  fast  up 
hill ;  you're  all  a  lather  of  sweat." 

About  an  hour  later  we  went  out  to  where  I 
had  first  baited  the  bees.  I  began  to  gather  wood 
to  start  a  fire  and  burn  for  them  again.  "What 
are  ye  goin'  to  do  with  that  wood?"  was  his  in- 
quiry. On  being  informed  that  this  was  the  way 
I  got  them  to  bait,  he  chuckled  to  himself  and  said 
he  would  show  me  a  better  and  easier  way.  He 
then  took  a  handkerchief  from  his  pocket,  then  a 
small  bottle  containing  something  that  was  of  a 


18  BEE  HUNTING. 

fluid  form,  and  sprinkled  the  handkerchief  with 
it.  He  then  got  a  pole  eight  or  ten  feet  long  and 
put  the  cloth  on  one  end,  raised  it  as  high  in  the 
air  as  he  could,  moving  it  back  and  forth  in  the 
breeze.  Very  soon  hundred  of  bees  were  darting 
through  the  air.  The  pole  was  slowly  lowered 
until  the  handkerchief  rested  on  the  ground, 
sweetened  water  was  sprinkled  on  some  bushes, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  yellow  bees  were  flying 
east  and  the  black  ones  found  previously  flying 
west. 

This  was  a  very  simple,  but  a  new  departure 
from  the  mode  followed  in  those  days.  He  ex- 
plained to  me  that  the  little  vial  contained  water, 
with  a  few  drops  of  the  oil  of  anisseed  added,  and 
there  were  other  scents  perhaps  better,  but  this 
being  the  only  kind  he  had  at  that  time  was  the 
reason  for  using  it.  We  went  directly  east  on  the 
course  four  or  five  hundred  yards.  This  brought 
us  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  and  to  a  large  rock 
that  was  fully  one  hundred  feet  from  the  ground 
at  the  base  to  the  top.  From  this  rock  we  had  a 
clear  view  of  the  valley  below.  The  eastern  side 
of  the  mountain  was  very  hilly,  and  covered  with 
a  dense  growth  of  trees,  and  farther  down,  this 


AN   OLD  BEE   HUNTER.  19 

forest  never  hearing  the  sound  of  the  woodman's 
ax,  became  so  dense  that  the  sun  could  scarcely 
find  an  opening  to  the  earth.  The  cloth  was 
sprinkled  with  more  of  the  scent,  waved  a  few 
times  in  the  air,  and  laid  beside  the  bait,  which 
was  composed  of  sugar  and  water,  on  the  rock. 
Bees  came  in  abundance.  Very  soon  we  could  see 
some  bees,  heavily  loaded,  circle  around  and  dart 
off  down,  down,  until  lost  to  our  sight.  Others 
would  fly  both  north  and  south  along  the  top, 
making  three  distinct  courses.  The  old  hunter 
watched  these  different  flights  for  a  considerable 
time,  then  going  some  distance  along  the  top,  and 
after  a  short  time  came  back  saying,  "Just  as  I 
expected.  These  fly  out  there,  make  a  turn,  and 
come  back  to  join  the  course  that  rlies  straight 
down.  Now  come  with  me  out  the  other  way  and 
we  will  see  if  the  others  don't  do  the  same."  Sure 
enough!  Taking  our  station  some  fifty  yards 
from  the  bait  we  could  see  them  coming  heavily 
loaded,  bend  down  and  back  toward  the  main 
course. 

"I  have  found  many  bees  in  my  time,  young 
man,  an'  never  saw  one  act  this  way  unless  the 
tree  was  close.    They  act  like  they  don't  want  to 


20  BEE    HUNTING. 

leave  that  rock ;  but  we  will  go  down  and  look  at 
some  of  that  timber."  As  all  the  timber  far  be- 
low had  been  looked  at  many  times  in  the  past  I 
thought  it  useless  but  did  not  say  so.  After  look- 
ing at  the  nearest  trees  below,  those  farther 
down  were  examined.  The  morning  had  been 
cloudy  but  now  the  sun  was  bright  and  clear.  The 
hunter  placed  his  hand  before  his  eyes  and  gazing 
up  at  the  sun  said  he  "never  saw  sich  actin' ;  they 
seem  to  come  right  toward  the  ground.  I  have 
found  'em  in  queer  places  but  never  in  the 
ground."  Just  then  a  bee  lit  on  some  leaves  in 
front  of  me.  I  called  his  attention  to  it.  **Now  ain't 
it  a  beauty?  Poor  little  fellow ; got  too  heavy  a  load 
an'  has  to  rest.  Now  watch  sharp ;  when  he  goes 
he  will  likely  fly  straight."  In  a  short  time  he 
slowly  raised,  made  a  half  circle,  darted  down  the 
mountain,  and  was  lost  to  me.  Not  so  with  my 
companion.  Stooped  low,  his  arm  thrust  forward 
as  though  guiding  the  bee  in  its  flight,  he  slowly 
turned  his  arm,  still  following,  until  he  was  point- 
ing straight  up  the  hill.  "As  sure  as  my  name 
is  Ike  Ward  that  bee  flew  up  the  hill,  and  just  as 
sure  its  home  is  there,  too." 

Up  the  hill  he  went,  looking  more  carefully  at 
every  tree,  until  the  last  tree  below  the  rock  had 


AN  OLD  BEE  HUNTER  21 

been  reached.  I  was  on  the  upper  side  of  this  tree 
and  was  almost  sure  that  it  must  be  in  this  one. 
The  old  hunter  was  on  the  lower  side,  gazing  in- 
tently up  the  hill  toward  the  rock.  For  some 
time  he  stood  thus,  then  said,  "You  had  better 
look  behind  you  if  you  want  to  find  the  yaller 
bee."  On  turning  round  I  saw  a  steady  stream  of 
bees  going  in  and  coming  out  from  the  very  base 
of  the  rock.  The  mystery  was  a  mystery  no 
longer.  They  had  baffled  all  the  bee  hunters  in 
the  community  for  three  years,  but  at  last  they 
gave  up  the  secret  of  their  hidden  home  to  Ike 
Ward. 

Taking  a  piece  of  paper  and  writing  thereon 
these  words :  "This  bee  was  found  by  Ike  Ward 
and  pard ;  if  any  person  find  it  please  don't  mis- 
lest  it."  He  laid  the  paper  above  the  entrance  of 
the  bees,  and,  laying  a  stone  on  it  to  keep  it  in 
place,  we  ended  this  our  first  bee-hunt  together. 
This  was  only  one  of  the  many  delightful  trips 
which  I  took  with  the  hunter,  only  one  of  the 
many  valuable  lessons  received  from  him  on  this 
fascinating  pastime.  He  has  long  since  passed 
away,  but  the  book  of  nature  was  open  to  him  at 
all  times  and  with  a  spirit  that  had  no  taint  of 
selfishness  in  it,  was  always  ready  to  impart 
knowledge  to  others. 


CHAPTER  IL 

EARLY  SPRING  HUNTING. 

Bees  are  very  fond  of  salt  in  the  early  spring, 
and,  in  fact,  in  all  parts  of  the  season  when  brood 
rearing  is  in  progress.  Now  we  will  start  out 
some  fine  spring  morning,  take  a  hatchet  or  an 
ax  and  a  polk  of  salt,  and  we  will  go  up  on  the 
side  of  the  mountain  and  chop  out  a  little  trough 
large  enough  to  hold  a  quart  or  more,  then 
sprinkle  a  little  water,  scented  with  oil  of  anise  or 
bergamont,  on  the  outside  of  this  trough,  then  put 
a  few  corncobs  and  a  handful  of  salt  in  the  trough 
and  place  the  trough  in  the  fork  of  a  small  tree 
out  of  the  way  of  any  stock  that  may  be  pasturing 
in  the  woods.  Our  work  is  now  done  at  this  place. 
We  can  go  on  and  put  out  several  of  these  baits 
along  the  mountain.  The  first  rain  that  comes 
will  fill  the  trough,  dissolve  the  salt,  which  will 
soak  into  the  corncobs,  and  the  scent  which  we 
placed  on  the  outside  of  the  trough  will  entice 
any  bees  that  may  be  flying.    After  this  we  go 


EARLY  SPRING  HUNTING  23 

home  and  a  day  or  so  after  the  first  good  rain  that 
comes,  we  will  go  back  and  the  chances  are  that 
we  will  have  several  good  courses.  Now  we  will 
cover  the  trough  over  with  a  bunch  of  leaves — 
green  boughs — and  sprinkle  these  freely  with 
sweetened  water.  Take  a  pint  bottle,  fill  it  one- 
fourth  full  of  granulated  sugar  and  fill  up  with 
water.  This  is  better  than  more  sugar,  for  when 
the  syrup  is  too  thick  it  requires  more  time  for 
the  bees  to  load  up  and  if  too  thick,  in  a  short  time 
the  bushes  become  sticky. 

After  several  bees  have  loaded  up  and  gone 
home,  we  will  take  a  cloth  and  saturate  it  with  the 
same  scent  used  on  the  trough,  then  take  the  bait 
— bunch  of  bushes — with  us  on  the  course,  hunt  a 
place  as  free  from  timber  as  possible  and  lay  out 
bait  on  the  top  of  a  bush,  the  cloth  beside  it,  and 
in  a  short  time  we  should  have  plenty  of  bees. 
After  determining  on  the  course  the  same  tactics 
are  pursued  until  we  arrive  at  the  tree,  or,  if  we 
have  good  reason  to  believe  the  bee  stands  in  any 
certain  group  of  trees  and  we  fail  to  find  the  tree, 
to  make  sure  that  our  ideas  are  correct  we  will 
move  our  bait  off  to  one  side  of  the  original  course 
and  thus  get  a  cross  course,  and  at  the  junction 


24  BEE    HUNTING. 

of  the  first  line  of  flight  and  this  second  line,  the 
bees  must  certainly  have  their  home.  We  must 
look  at  every  tree  with  the  utmost  care,  for  it  is  a 
very  easy  matter  to  overlook  a  bee  tree,  even  ex- 
perienced bee  hunters  have  done  this.  But  if  we 
take  time  to  examine  a  tree  from  all  sides  we 
should  always  be  able  to  locate  them. 


.   CHAPTER  III. 

BEES  WATERING.     HOW  TO  FIND  THEM. 

As  soon  as  the  bees  begin  to  stir  in  the  spring 
they  go  searching  around  for  water,  for  this  is 
one  essential  element  in  brood-rearing.  Early  in 
the  season  the  ground  is  generally  so  full  of  water 
that  bees  are  not  confined  to  any  certain  place  in 
order  to  get  the  amount  needed.  But  later  in  the 
season,when  the  ground  has  dried  off  and  wet 
weather  springs  have  dried  up,  if  we  go  into  the 
woods  along  the  mountain  and  visit  the  never- 
failing  springs  sure  to  be  found  in  the  hollows 
and  low  flat  places,  we  will  be  pretty  sure  to  find 
bees  at  some  of  these  places. 

It  is  not  often  that  bees  are  numerous  enough 
at  these  springs  to  make  what  would  be  termed  a 
strong  course,  but  by  following  the  plan  which  I 
here  give,  you  can,  in  a  short  space  of  time,  have 
all  the  bees  necessary,  with  no  danger  of  having 
bees  from  other  trees  or  from  our  neighbors' 
stands,  which  would  make  a  mix-up,  and  make  it 

D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 
North  Carolina  State  Colleg© 


26  BEE    HUNTING. 

much  harder  for  us  to  follow  the  bee  that  is  water- 
ing. When  we  go  on  a  trip  of  this  kind  first  we 
will  provide  ourselves  with  a  small  glass  tumbler ; 
a  cover,  made  of  some  dark  heavy  material,  long 
enough  so  that  when  slipped  over  the  glass  it  will 
come  within  one-fourth  of  an  inch  of  the  open 
end.  Then  we  will  take  a  few  drops  of  honey  in  a 
small  vial,  the  scent,  cloth,  and  bait  of  sugar  and 
water  mentioned  previously.  When  we  find  the 
bees  watering  we  take  the  glass,  without  cover, 
and  place  it  over  the  bee,  which  will  immediately 
try  to  fly  and  finding  himself  a  prisoner,  will 
crawl  around  the  upper  part  of  the  glass.  Previ- 
ous to  this  a  few  drops  of  the  honey  were  placed 
on  a  piece  of  cardboard  or  large  leaf.  Then  we 
lift  the  glass  and  place  the  hand  under  to  prevent 
the  bee  escaping  and  place  it  on  the  cardboard 
or  leaf.  Now  place  the  black  hood  over  it  and 
watch  the  result.  There  is  but  one  place  for  light 
to  enter  and  this  is  the  narrow  opening  at  lower 
end  of  cover.  In  a  moment  the  bee  can  be  seen 
crawling  around  the  bottom,  sometimes  reaching 
down  to  the  cardboard.  Now  he  has  found  a  drop 
of  the  honey  and  seemingly  forgets  his  sad  plight 
of  a  moment  ago  and  proceeds  to  take  a  meal.  The 


BEES    WATERING — FINDING.  27 

glass  is  lifted  gently  off,  the  dark  thick  cover  pre- 
venting him  from  seeing  our  hand.  As  soon  as 
he  is  loaded  he  starts  and  circles  many  times  and 
then  goes  home,  and  in  some  manner  that  we  can't 
explain,  tells  others  of  what  delicious  sweets  he 
has  found.  No  more  water  for  that  bee;  he  is 
bound  to  come  back  and  search  for  more  honey. 

We  can  go  and  catch  as  many  bees  as  we  think 
it  necessary,  but  generally  five  or  six  would  be 
ample.  Then  the  scented  cloth  is  placed  on  the 
ground,  a  bunch  of  green  bushes  laid  on  the  spot 
where  the  cardboard  had  been  sprinkled  freely 
with  sweetened  water,  and  we  are  soon  ready  to 
start  on  the  course,  following  the  instructions 
given  in  previous  chapter. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
HUNTING  BEES  FROM  SUMAC. 

Sumac  begins  to  bloom  about  the  first  of  July 
and  continues  through  the  month.  It  is  unques- 
tionably the  greatest  source  of  honey  in  the  coun- 
try in  which  I  live.  From  the  time  the  dew  is  off 
until  dusk  the  bee  is  busy  on  it.  Every  old  worn- 
out  field  is  plentifully  supplied  with  it  and  a 
different  variety  is  found  growing  in  small 
patches  all  over  the  mountains.  I  have  found 
more  bee  trees  by  the  plan  now  given  than  per- 
haps any  other. 

We  will  visit  some  of  these  places  and  select  a 
spot  where  there  are  a  few  bunches  near  together, 
if  no  more  than  a  half  dozen  bunches  the  better. 
Now  having  our  bottle  containing  bait  prepared, 
let  us  select  two  or  three  bunches  standing  close 
together  and  sprinkle  them  freely  with  the  bait, 
then  break  off  all  others  standing  near.  At  first 
the  bees  will  fly  around  as  if  they  don't  like  to 
light  on  the  wet  bushes  but  the  ones  that  were 


HUNTING  BEES  FROM  SUMAC.  29 

used  to  getting  honey  from  these  flowers  may 
visit  other  flowers  and  fly  away,  but  they  are  sure 
to  come  back,  and,  after  taking  a  sip,  finding  it  a 
quicker  method  of  getting  a  load  of  sweets,  settle 
down  to  business  and  in  a  short  space  of  time 
adapt  themselves  to  the  new  order  of  things  and 
are  soon  on  their  way  home,  never  failing  to  re- 
turn, bringing  others  along.  Keeping  the  bushes 
well  supplied  with  bait,  we  will  soon  discover  a 
course  and  perhaps  two  or  more.  Then  take  the 
scented  cloth,  lay  it  near  the  bait,  and  after  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes  break  these  bushes  off  a  foot  or 
more  below  the  flowers  and  we  are  ready  to  start 
on  the  course.    After  going  two  or  three  hundred 
yards,  select  a  place  clear  of  trees  so  that  they  can 
fly  on  their  course  without  being  compelled  to  fly 
around  timber,  lay  the  scent  cloth  near  by,  and 
in  five  or  ten  minutes  you  will  have  plenty  of  bees, 
or,  we  may  be  going  on  the  line  of  flight  and  find 
the  bees  suddenly  cease  to  come  to  bait.    This  is 
an  unfailing  sign  that  we  have  passed  the  tree 
or  are  very  close  to  it. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HUNTING  BEES  FROM  BUCKWHEAT. 

During  buckwheat  bloom,  which  occurs  in  the 
month  of  August  and  early  part  of  September, 
many  bees  are  found.  Some  hunters  line  them  to 
the  tree  by  sunning.  This  method  requires  a  very 
clear  day  and  unless  the  hunter  thoroughly  under- 
stands this  art,  knows  an  unloaded  bee  from  a 
loaded  one,  he  is  not  apt  to  be  very  successful.  Be- 
sides this  fact  I  have  known  many  hunters  to  so 
injure  their  eyesight  as  to  become,  in  old  age, 
partially  blind  and  perhaps  altogether  so.  I,  my- 
self, have  found  many  bees  in  this  way  and  feel 
certain  that  my  eyesight  has  been  injured,  but 
am  very  thankful  that  I  discarded  this  method 
many  years  ago. 

Bees  do  their  work  on  buckwheat  from  the 
time  the  dew  is  leaving  until  near  noon;  and  on 
a  hot,  clear  day  but  few  bees,  if  any,  will  be 
found  working  on  it  after  12  M.  One  of  the 
greatest  elements  uf  success  in  hunting  bees  by 


HUNTING  PROM  BUCKWHEAT.  31 

the  baiting  method  is  to  use  a  scent  that  is  the 
same  as  the  flower  the  bee  is  working  on.  There- 
fore, gather  some  of  the  flowers  of  the  buckwheat 
and  have  them  distilled,  or,  if  this  is  out  of  the 
question,  put  some  of  the  flowers  in  a  quart  jar, 
say  half  full,  well  packed  down,  then  just  cover 
with  diluted  alcohol  and  let  it  stand  a  few  days 
and  you  have  an  ideal  scent  to  use  at  this  particu- 
lar time.  After  getting  a  course  from  a  field  of 
buckwheat,  about  ten  or  half -past  ten  go  on  the 
course,  and  when  you  come  to  a  place  clear  of 
underbrush  and  no  large  trees  to  bother  the  flight 
of  bees,  sprinkle  some  of  the  scent  mentioned 
above  on  some  leaves  and  near  the  scent  place  a 
bunch  of  bushes  sprinkled  with  bait  made  by  fill- 
ing a  pint  bottle  one-fourth  full  of  honey,  one- 
fourth  of  granulated  sugar  and  one-half  water. 
Many  bees,  at  this  time  of  day,  are  going  to  and 
fro  from  the  field.  Some  of  them  find  nectar 
harder  to  get  than  it  was  an  hour  before  and  some 
fly  on  the  homeward  journey  lightly  loaded.  They 
are  beginning  to  lose  faith  in  the  buckwheat  field 
and  these  are  the  very  ones  that  detect  the  scent 
first.  Others  are  becoming  dissatisfied  as  these 
first  ones  did — one  rubs  against  another,  and  in 


32  BEE    HUNTING. 

bee  language  tells  that  he  has  found  something 
mighty  good  down  in  the  bushes,  and  by  the  time 
the  bait  is  licked  up  we  should  have  a  direct 
course  from  this  location  and  be  ready  to  repeat 
the  operation  farther  on  the  course.  The  next 
time  the  bait  is  put  down  we  should  have  plenty 
of  bees  in  not  more  than  ten  minutes,  and  if  they 
are  tardy  about  coming,  providing  we  had  a  fair 
amount  at  the  first  location,  we  have  either  passed 
the  tree,  are  nearly  under  it,  or  have  gone  far  off 
the  course. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

FALL    HUNTING. 

The  main  sources  of  the  honey  supply  are  now 
over,  and  if  the  methods  given  in  the  preceding 
chapters  are  followed  it  is  necessary  for  us  to  get 
out  on  the  mountains  or  fields  far  distant  from 
home  apiaries  and  look  for  the  few  flowers  that 
have  escaped  killing  frosts.  A  few  bunches  of 
mountain  goldenrod  are  found  here  and  there 
scattered  over  the  mountain-side.  A  white 
flower,  growing  on  a  stem  about  two  feet  in 
height,  is  also  found  in  many  locations.  I  am  un- 
able to  give  the  botanical  name  of  this  latter 
flower,  but  every  bee  hunter  w^ho  has  had  much 
experience  has  seen  many  bees  on  it  when  other 
flow^ers  have  ceased  to  exist  or  have  been  ren- 
dered useless  by  frosts,  as  a  source  of  honey. 

If  but  a  few  of  these  flowers  are  found  grow- 
ing together  and  a  few  bees  are  seen  on  them, 
sprinkle  freely  with  bait  before  described,  and  in 
a  short  time  you  will  find  ten  bees  to  where  there 


34  BEE  HUNTING. 

was  one  at  first.  Now  if  you  start  them  from 
goldenrod,  scent  of  almost  anything  used  in  bee 
hunting  will  serve  to  draw  them  on  the  course; 
but  essence  of  goldenrod  is  far  superior  at  this 
season  of  the  year.  As  I  have  before  stated,  a 
scent  should  be  used  to  conform  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible to  the  scent  of  the  flower  the  bee  is  working 
on  at  any  particular  time.  It  would  be  a  super- 
fluity to  explain  any  farther,  as  the  same  tactics 
must  be  followed  as  described  earlier  in  this  work. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  LATEST  IMPROVED  METHOD  OF  BURNING. 

We  now  come  to  the  time  of  the  year  when  all 
flowers,  by  the  laws  of  nature,  cease  to  bloom. 
Indian  summer  is  here  with  its  nice  balmy  days. 
Just  right  —  not  too  warm  not  yet  too  cool.  The 
very  time  when  even  those  of  us  who  are  getting 
up  in  years  begin  to  feel  young  again.  How^  sad  it 
would  be  to  the  one  who  loves  nature  and  her 
ways  to  be  obliged  to  lay  aside  all  thought  of  sport 
until  nature  unfurled  her  robes  again!  Some  of 
the  happiest  moments  of  my  life  have  come  dur- 
ing this  part  of  the  year,  and  I  hope  to  be  able  to 
convince  my  readers  that  we  should  always  say 
"welcome"  to  the  aged  year.  Well  do  I  remember 
when  I  used  to  go  along  with  the  old  hunter  in 
search  of  the  bee.  A  fire  would  be  made,  some 
large  fiat  stones  heated  and  carried  to  a  con- 
venient place,  then  bee  comb  moistened  with 
water,  placed  on  them  and  soon  bees  would  be 
seen  darting  through  the  air.    Some  might  settle 


36  BEE    HUNTING. 

on  the  bait,  but  if  not  enough  to  satisfy  the 
hunter,  another  hot  stone  was  brought,  and  the 
process  repeated  until  there  were  enough  bees 
working  on  the  bait  to  give  a  strong  course.  Then 
taking  another  hot  stone  and  going  a  long  ways 
on  the  course  we  would  proceed  to  burn  again. 
Perhaps  the  stone  had  cooled  off  by  this  time  and 
the  bee  failed  to  come  quickly  or  in  sufficient  num- 
bers. Then  we  had  to  either  go  back,  replenish 
the  fire,  heat  more  stones,  or  build  another  fire  at 
the  new  location.  Carrying  the  hot  stones  from 
place  to  place  was  the  work  generally  assigned  to 
me.  Sometimes  stones  of  a  slaty  nature  would  be 
heated  and  when  becoming  quite  hot  would  burst 
with  a  loud  report  and  fly  in  all  directions.  At 
that  time  I  would  just  about  as  soon  approach  a 
loaded  cannon.  After  twisting  a  stick  around  the 
stone  it  was  carried  at  arm's  length  to  the  new 
location  and  with  sweat  streaming  down  my  face 
I  was  glad  when  the  time  came  to  lay  it  down. 
This  was  undoubtedly  laborious,  but  the  excite- 
ment connected  with  the  sport  was  at  such  a  pitch 
that  the  thought  of  labor  being  in  any  way  con- 
nected with  bee  hunting  never  entered  my  mind. 


IMPROVED  METHOD  OF  BURNING.  37 

But  as  time  wore  on  I  got  to  thinking  that 
there  might  be  other  plans  much  easier  and 
quicker  than  the  one  described,  and  I  feel  sure 
that  those  who  love  the  sport  will  agree  that  the 
plan  laid  before  the  readers  is  in  every  way 
superior  to  the  old  method 

First  get  a  small  tin  pail,  holding  about  a  half 
gallon.  Cut  out,  from  the  bottom  upwards,  a  hole 
four  or  five  inches  up  and  down  and  two  inches 
wide.  Have  a  pan  made  so  that  it  will  fit  down  in- 
side the  pail  just  deep  enough  to  come  down  to  up- 
per edge  of  the  hole  cut  out  of  pail.  There  should 
be  a  rim  on  top  part  of  the  pan  to  prevent  it  work- 
ing lower  down  than  the  hole  in  the  pail.  Now  get 
a  miner's  lamp,  which  will  not  cost  more  than 
from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  cents.  Coal  oil  can  be 
used  but  lard  oil  is  much  better,  and  better  than 
either  of  these  is  alcohol.  A  small  lamp  suitable 
for  burning  this  can  be  purchased  at  a  small  cost. 

Now  you  are  ready  to  start  out.  Take  some 
refuse  honey  and  your  bottle  of  bait,  get  far  out 
on  the  mountains,  so  there  will  be  little  danger 
of  drawing  bees  from  apiaries  that  may  be  situ- 
ated in  the  valleys.  When  a  suitable  place  is  found, 
clear  of  underbrush  and  no  large  trees  to  bother 


38  BEE  HUNTING. 

the  bees  when  starting  for  home,  set  pail  down, 
put  some  of  the  honey  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
pail  (or  pan),  strike  a  match,  touch  it  to  the  wick 
of  the  lamp.  The  spout  of  the  lamp  should  come 
within  about  two  inches  of  the  bottom  of  the  pan. 
The  honey  begins  to  boil  immediately  and  sends 
its  scent  out  over  the  mountains.  A  few  drops  of 
the  oil  of  anise  and  bergamont  mixed  can  be 
dropped  into  the  pan,  and  a  bunch  of  bushes  held 
over  the  fumes  until  it  is  scented.  This  is  then  laid 
on  the  top  of  a  bush  or  stump  close  by  and  sprink- 
led with  bait.  By  this  time  bees  may  be  heard  dart- 
ing through  the  air  or  seen  hunting  slowly 
through  the  bushes  in  search  of  something  to  eat. 
It  is  a  very  good  plan  to  blow  the  lamp  out  when 
the  first  bees  are  flying  around.  The  scent  is 
strong  all  around  and  when  the  lamp  is  blown  out 
the  scent  soon  dies  out  except  near  the  bait  and 
the  bees  find  the  bait  much  sooner  than  if  the 
lamp  was  kept  burning.  There  may  be  plenty  of 
bees  to  start  with  from  the  first  burning  and  if 
not,  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  light  the  lamp  again. 
If  you  have  your  course  and  are  about  to  start,  it 
only  requires  a  second  of  time  to  pick  up  the  burn- 
ing apparatus  and  the  bunch  of  bushes  and  start 


IMPROVED  METHOD  OF  BURNING.  39 

on  the  course.  But  for  fear  you  may  be  only  a 
beginner  and  make  a  mistake  which  might  dis- 
courage you,  I  want  to  have  a  little  talk  with  you 
before  starting  from  the  first  location. 

In  reading  articles  relating  to  bee  hunting, 
some  of  the  writers  tell  how,  after  loading  up,  the 
bees  would  circle  round  and  round  before  starting 
on  the  homeward  journey.    I  believe  I  have  seen 
a  few  bees  make  a  complete  circle.     I  have  seen 
hundreds  of  thousands  that  did  not.     As  a  rule 
when  a  bee  raises  from  the  bait  it  will  act  as 
though  it  intends  to  circle,  but  watch  closely  and 
you  find  before  coming  around  to  the  place  of 
starting  it  will  quickly  turn  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion,    repeating     this     several     times  —  always 
widening  out.    It  will  seem  to  fall  far  back  with 
a  downward  motion,  then  gather  up  and  come 
slowly  back,  often  passing  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  bait  and  making  a  sudden  motion,  is  lost  to 
sight.     This  fact  might  make  you  think  the  bee 
really  went  in  this  direction.    I  want  to  stake  my 
reputation  as  a  bee  hunter  of  years  of  experience, 
that  when  a  bee  is  seen  to  make  these  half  circles 
on  one  side  of  the  bait  and  seem  to  fall  off  in  any 
direction,  bearing  down  toward  the  earth,  that 


40  BEE  HUNTING. 

this  is  the  general  direction  in  which  the  tree 
stands,  and  if  I  can  see  a  bee  make  a  few  of  these 
half  circles  (though  it  may  be  the  first  one  on  the 
bait),  it  settles  the  matter  in  my  mind  as  to  the 
general  direction  of  the  tree.  But  even  if  our 
minds  are  made  up  in  regard  to  this  line  of  flight, 
it  is  wise  to  take  more  time  and  watch  closely,  for 
there  is  no  good  reason  why  we  should  not  get  two 
or  possibly  more  courses  from  this  first  location. 
Then  go  on  the  strongest  course  until  we  find  the 
tree  and  then  come  back  and  start  on  the  others. 

In  going  on  the  course  don't  fail  to  look  well 
at  every  tree,  for  sometimes  they  are  found  in 
very  small  trees  when  there  are  lots  of  large  ones 
standing  all  around. 

I  will  give  my  experience  in  finding  a  bee  that 
has  taught  me  to  look  at  every  thing  on  the  course, 
not  even  discarded  stumps,  logs  and  bushes,  for  I 
have  found  bees  in  the  two  former  and  hanging 
on  the  latter.  In  early  November  I  had  a  strong 
course  from  bait.  They  flew  directly  up  on  the 
side  of  the  mountain.  The  course  flew  over  a  large 
barren  thicket  and  after  looking  at  the  timber  on 
the  lower  edge  of  the  barrens,  the  bait  was  moved 
across  the  thicket.     There  were  a  few  chestnut 


IMPROVED  METHOD  OF  BURNING.  41 

trees  standing  between  the  upper  edge  and  the 
place  I  selected  to  bait  them  again.  Soon  they 
came  and  flew  back  down.  I  was  sure  they  must 
be  in  one  of  the  trees  mentioned,  for  there  was 
nothing  growing  in  the  thicket  large  enough  for 
a  bee  to  go  in.  After  looking  at  the  few  trees 
spoken  of  and  not  finding  them,  I  went  back  down 
to  the  lower  edge  and  could  see  them  fly  nearly 
half  way  across  the  thicket.  I  was  puzzled,  and 
proceeded  to  look  at  the  few  logs  that  were  laying 
down  and  still  failed  to  locate  them.  My  next 
move  was  to  hang  my  burning  bucket  on  a  limb 
and  burn.  In  no  time  there  were  bees  by  the 
quart  on  the  bait,  flying  in  all  directions.  Sing- 
ling out  some  of  the  steady  flying  ones,  they 
seemed  to  fly  a  short  distance,  and  drop  into  the 
brush.  On  investigating,  I  found  them  hanging 
on  a  little  bush,  working  away  as  though  they  had 
the  best  place  in  the  world  to  store  their  honey. 
They  had  evidently  been  there  for  a  long  time  as 
they  had  several  good  sized  combs  fastened  to 
the  bush.  I  knew  they  were  bound  to  perish,  for 
cold  weather  was  coming  on,  so  I  told  a  friend 
where  to  find  it,  and  gave  it  to  him  with  the 
understanding  that  he  was  to  hive  it,  putting  the 
combs  and  brood  in  the  hive. 


42  BEE    HUNTING. 

The  above  is  mentioned  to  prove  that  bees  are 
sometimes  found  in  places  out  of  the  ordinary, 
and  in  closing  this  part  of  my  work  I  want  to  im- 
press you  with  the  fact  that  it  always  pays  to  go 
slow  and  look  well  while  on  the  course. 


NOTE — If  not  convenient  and  a  vessel  of  the  kind  de- 
scribed (for  burning)  cannot  be  had,  any  small  tin  pail  will 
do  without  cutting  out  the  hole  for  lamp.  A  couple  of 
stones  laid  on  the  ground  a  few  inches  apart  will  make  a 
place  for  the  lamp  and  the  bucket  placed  over  it  on  the 
stones,  although  the  first  mentioned  will  be  found  more 
convenient. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SOME  FACTS  ABOUT  LINE  OF  FLIGHT. 

You  have  all  heard  the  term  "bee  line"  used, 
and  naturally  infer  that  it  means  a  straight  line. 
This  was  what  I  believed  it  to  be  in  my  earlier 
days,  but  from  numerous  observations  I  am  led 
to  believe  that  the  terms  "bee  line"  and  "straight 
line"  are  in  some  cases  incompatible.  If  the  line 
of  flight  is  over  ground  unbroken  by  hills  and  hol- 
lows, a  bee  will  fly  as  straight  home  after  loading 
up  as  anything  having  wings  can.  But  in  following 
a  course  through  a  wooded  country,  along  the  side 
of  hills  or  mountains  containing  ridges  and  deep 
hollows,  the  line  of  flight  deviates  far  from  a 
straight  line. 

To  illustrate  and  prove  the  above  assertion,  1 
will  here  give  an  incident  in  connection  with  bee 
hunting  that  occurred  not  many  years  ago,  and 
which  goes  to  prove  that  bees  do  not  always  fly  in 
a  perfectly  straight  line.  East  of  my  home  about 
one  mile  there  is  a  mountain  extending  north  and 
south.    Along  the  foot  of  this  mountain,  a  stream, 


44  BEE    HUNTING. 

known  as  Sideling  Hill  creek,  runs  the  entire 
length  of  the  valley.  The  mountain  extending  up 
from  this  creek  is  made  up  of  ridges  ai.d  hollows. 
A  friend  of  mine,  one  day  in  July,  found  bees 
watering  along  the  creek  and  nearly  east  of  my 
home.  The  bees  flew  south  with  the  creek  along 
the  foot  of  the  mountain.  After  trying  to  find 
them,  (consuming  two  days'  time  in  the  attempt) , 
he  came  for  me  to  help  him  out,  telling  me  that  he 
had  looked  at  every  tree  near  the  course  for  a  dis- 
tance of  a  mile.  It  was  a  very  finely  marked 
Italian  bee,  and  being  anxious  to  find  and  hive  it, 
offered  to  pay  me  for  my  time  whether  we  found 
the  bee  or  not.  I  asked  him  if  he  had  baited  them 
at  the  water.  He  said  he  had  tried  but  not  a  bee 
could  be  induced  to  take  bait.  My  time  being  lim- 
ited just  then,  I  told  him  I  would  get  them  to  bait 
for  him  and  after  this  he  certainly  could  find  it 
himself.  *'0h,  yes,  that's  all  I  ask,"  he  replied. 
Going  with  him,  I  used  the  method  described  in 
an  early  chapter  entitled  ''Hunting  the  Bee  from 
Water."  In  a  short  space  of  time  I  had  lots  of 
them  loading  up  and  flying  south  along  the  creek. 
About  a  half  mile  on  the  course  an  old  clearing 
ran  up  some  distance  on  a  ridge,  and  the  course 


FACTS  ABOUT  LINE  OF  FLIGHT.  45 

seemed  to  go  about  midway  through  it.  My  in- 
structions were  to  put  the  bait  on  this  place,  as  it 
was  clear  of  all  bushes  that  might  bother  him 
from  getting  a  direct  course,  and  after  giving  all 
necessary  instruction  I  went  home  and  awaited 
results.  The  next  evening  he  told  me  he  had  gone 
into  the  old  field  and,  as  the  bees  were  a  little  slow 
in  coming  to  the  bait,  he  built  a  fire  and  proceeded 
to  burn  and  got  bees  in  abundance,  still  flying  on 
the  same  course;  then  moving  the  bait  much 
farther  on  the  course  to  another  old  field,  found 
that  they  continued  on  the  same  line  of  flight ;  and 
from  this  last  location  followed  them  in  sight  of 
a  house,  the  owner  having  thirty  stands  of  bees, 
thus  convincing  him  that  the  bees  all  had  come 
from  this  apiary. 

But  I  was  convinced  he  had  overlooked  the 
bees  started  with,  for  these  reasons :  This  apiary 
was  two  miles  from  where  the  bees  watered ;  the 
same  stream  flowed  near  by  the  apiary  —  there 
were  many  springs  near  and  water  in  abundance 
all  along  the  course.  Then  the  clearing  first  men- 
tioned had  lots  of  sumac  growing  in  it ;  many  bees 
from  the  apiary  were  working  on  this  and  other 
flowers,  and  by  burning,  these  bees  were  enticed 


46  BEE    HUNTING. 

to  the  bait  in  such  numbers  that  the  few  that  may 
have  been  on  bait  from  the  tree  were  not  noticed 
by  an  inexperienced  hunter.  After  telling  him  of 
my  suspicions,  he  was  the  more  anxious  that  I 
should  go  along  with  him  again  and  see  for  myself 
that  there  was  no  wild  bee  on  the  course. 

I  was  equally  anxious  to  prove  to  him  that 
there  was.  So  the  following  morning  found  us  in 
the  old  field  where  he  had  first  placed  the  bait. 
Taking  my  bottle  containing  bait.  I  sprinkled 
some  on  a  bunch  of  bushes  left  there  the  day 
previous.  This  was  all  that  was  required  and  the 
bees  that  had  been  having  a  feast  at  this  location 
the  day  before  soon  found  it  out  and  eagerly  set- 
tled down  for  another  feast.  It  seemed  that  the 
whole  apiary  had  swarmed  out  and  come  to  the 
bait  —  hundreds  were  soon  flying  towards  this 
apiary.  Here  my  friend  ventured  to  ask  if  I  was 
not  convinced  that  they  went  to  the  apiary.  I 
had  been  watching  very  close  and  knew  very  well 
that  the  majority  of  the  bees  did  go  there,  but  I 
had  also  seen  a  few  bees  fly  a  short  distance  on 
the  course  and  bear  off  to  the  left.  I  said  nothing 
about  this  at  the  time,  thinking  it  best  to  be  posi- 
tive before  giving  a  final  opinion.    There  was  a 


FACTS  ABOUT  LINE  OF  FLIGHT.  47 

[leep  hollow  running  up  from  the  opposite  side  of 
the  clearing  and  getting  in  a  more  favorable  posi- 
tion I  could  see  many  bees  bear  off  from  the  main 
course  and  go  up  to  the  hollow.  Now  I  was  ready 
\o  tell  him  he  had  been  outwitted  by  the  bees. 
Calling  him  to  me,  I  showed  him  the  bees  fly- 
ing up  the  hollow.  We  then  moved  the  bait  about 
one  hundred  yards  farther  up  and  found  that  they 
still  went  on  up.  We  left  the  bait  and  proceeded 
to  look  at  the  timber.  Finally  one  hundred  yards 
above  this  last  place  there  was  a  large  white  pine 
standing  on  the  left  side  of  the  hollow  and  not 
over  ten  feet  from  the  ground  they  were  pouring 
in,  in  a  steady  stream,  pure  golden  Italians.  Was 
he  convinced  this  was  the  bee  we  had  started  with 
from  the  watering  place  ?  No,  not  at  all.  It  was 
too  far  from  the  course.  I  told  him  we  would  cut 
it  and  take  it  home,  and  if  bees  still  continued  to 
water  at  the  same  location  I  would  give  in.  The 
bee  was  cut  next  day  and  taken  home  and  all 
watering  ceased  at  that  place.  This  was  evidence 
enough  for  him  and  proved  to  him,  as  it  must  to 
every  one,  that  under  certain  conditions  bees  will 
vary  very  much  from  a  straight  line  of  flight. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


BAITS  AND  SCENTS. 


In  rambling  through  the  woods  and  over  the 
mountains  I  have  seen  bee  hunters  using  bait  with 
the  oil  of  anise  in  it,  or  perhaps  a  bait  containing 
several  different  scents.  They  did  not  seem  to 
know,  nor  care,  that  bait  containing  these  oils 
was  injurious  to  bees;  but  the  fact  is  well  known 
that  they  are  injurious  —  not  to  our  neighbor's 
bees  alone,  but  to  the  ones  we  are  trying  to  find. 
Therefore,  never  combine  baits  with  scents  of  any 
kind.  The  former  is  intended  to  furnish  feed  for 
the  bee,  and  when  loaded  will  always  start  for  the 
home.  The  latter  is  used  as  a  means  of  getting 
them  to  come  to  bait. 

There  are  many  different  scents  used  for  en- 
ticing the  bee  to  bait.  Some  hunters  prefer  oil  of 
anise,  others  use  bergamont;  then  some  combine 
these  or  other  scents.  But  bear  in  mind  that  what 
should  be  used  ought  to  conform  as  nearly  as  pos- 


BAITS  AND  SCENTS.  49 

sible  in  scent  to  the  main  source  of  nectar  at  any 
particular  season  of  the  year. 

In  preparing  these  scents,  take  an  ounce  of  the 
oil  you  may  prefer,  put  it  into  a  pint  bottle  and  fill 
bottle  one-fourth  full  of  alcohol ;  let  it  stand  a  few 
days  and  then  fill  up  with  water.  This  would 
make  sufficient  scent  to  last  any  one  for  several 
years.  A  small  vial  can  be  filled  and  taken  along 
—  even  an  ounce  vial  will  last  several  trips ;  or  a 
few  drops  of  the  oil  can  be  put  into  a  bottle  and 
water  added,  but  as  water  will  not  cut  the  oil,  it 
remains  insoluble  and  when  the  bottle  is  turned 
in  order  that  the  mixture  will  run  out,  it  often 
happens  that  our  scent  (after  using  a  time  or 
two)  is  no  good,  the  oil  having  disappeared.  But 
by  cutting  the  scent  with  alcohol,  the  last  drop 
will  be  just  as  strongly  scented  as  the  first. 

I  have  used  about  all  the  different  scents 
known  to  bee  hunters  and  oil  of  anise  was  my 
standby  for  many  years.  I  found  bergamont  to 
be  good.  Horse  mint,  goldenrod,  and  many  other 
oils  and  scents  were  used  at  some  particular  time 
of  the  year,  but  the  most  powerful  and  lasting 
scent  I  ever  used  was  oil  of  sweet  clover.  Having 
run  out  of  the  oil  and  not  knowing  where  to  get  it 


50  BEE  HUNTING. 

without  sending  to  some  drug  house,  1  bought  a 
toilet  preparation  labled  "essence  of  sweet 
clover,"  and  found  it  filled  the  bill.  A  few  drops 
were  spilled  on  my  sleeve  and  in  going  on  a  course 
this  was  all  that  was  needed.  If  I  stopped  but  a 
moment,  my  arm  was  covered  with  bees. 

I  don't  advocate  the  use  of  the  hunting-box  for 
bee  hunting.  I  tried  them  long  ago  and  found  the 
method  slow  and  uncertain.  In  carrying  my  box 
from  one  location  to  another  and  releasing  the 
imprisoned  bees  I  would  always  see  them  circle 
around  and  light  on  a  leaf  and  consume  from  five 
minutes  to  a  half  hour  in  cleaning  themselves  up 
and  when  they  did  depart,  there  was  no  assurance 
that  they  would  come  back.  However,  some  hunt- 
ers must  meet  with  better  success  than  I  have  had 
in  hunting  by  the  box  method,  and  to  those  I 
would  say,  if  bringing  the  bees  to  your  box  is 
what  you  want,  just  rub  a  few  drops  of  the  oil  of 
sweet  clover  on  the  side  of  your  box  and  that  part 
of  finding  the  bee  is  done. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  more  about  baits. 
My  views  have  been  given  in  the  earlier  chapters 
on  bee  hunting.  A  few  drops  of  pure  honey  is 
perhaps  the  best  that  can  be  used  in  starting  the 


BAITS  AND  SCENTS.  51 

bees  on  bait,  but  as  soon  as  several  have  loaded 
with  the  honey,  sprinkle  your  bunch  of  bushes 
which  you  intend  to  carry  on  the  course  with  a 
bait  made  by  filling  a  bottle  one-fourth  full  of 
pure  granulated  sugar,  then  a  little  honey  and 
filling  the  bottle  up  with  water.  This  will  make 
the  bait  sweet  enough  and  it  will  not  become  so 
sticky  as  if  more  sugar  or  honey  were  used. 


CHAPTER  X. 

CUTTING  THE  TREE  AND  TRANSFERRING. 

I  hope  those  who  read  this  book  may  find 
something  in  its  pages  that  will  be  beneficial.  In 
your  excursions  through  the  forests  you  are  un- 
consciously getting  the  benefit  of  the  greatest 
source  in  Ihe  world  of  physical  perfection  — 
God's  pure  air  —  and,  at  the  same  time  there  are 
no  reasons  why  one  with  reasonable  tact  cannot 
be  benefited  financially. 

When  should  a  bee  tree  be  cut  and  transferred 
to  the  hive?  There  is  a  difference  of  opinion  in 
regard  to  the  time  of  the  year  and  also  to  the 
manner  in  which  it  should  be  done.  I  respect  the 
opinions  of  those  who  have  expressed  themselves 
on  the  subject,  but  after  trying  nearly  all  the 
methods  described  I  found  nothing  in  them  that 
came  up  to  my  ideal  of  a  perfect  plan  of  trans- 
ferring the  bee  from  the  tree  to  the  hive. 

My  first  plan  was  to  cut  the  tree  and,  if  not  too 
large,  saw  it  off  both  above  and  below  the  bees, 
keep  them  in  with  smoke,  and  tack  screen  over  the 


CUTTING  TREE  AND  TRANSFERRING.  53 

place  of  entrance.     Then  hire  someone  to  help 
carry  it  home.    It  was  set  up  on  end  and  left  to 
take  care  of  itself  and  if  a  swarm  would  issue 
from  it  and  we  were  successful  in  hiving  it  in 
the  old  box  hive   (the  kind  mostly  in  use  in  my 
boyhood  days),  we  thought  the  last  chapter  of 
bee-keeping  had  been  learned.     Then,  after  the 
movable  frame  hive  came  into  use  the  tree  would 
be  cut,  the  bees  drove  into  a  box,  the  honey  taken 
from  the  tree  and  with  a  few  pieces  of  brood  all 
was  taken  home.     The  small  bits  of  comb  were 
tied  in  the  central  frames  for  the  bees  to  cluster 
on  and  the  bees  shaken  from  the  box  in  front  of 
the  hive.    This  plan  was  certainly  superior  to  the 
first  mentioned  but  had  one  serious  drawback  — 
the  brood  that  was  in  the  tree  was  left  to  perish. 
After  seeing  the  serious  defects  in  the  de- 
scribed methods,  my  next  move  was  to  take  a 
hive  with  me  on  going  to  cut  the  tree.    All  comb 
containing  brood  was  placed  in  the  frames,  the 
bees  run  into  the  hive,  which  was  left  at  the  tree 
for  a  week  or  more  in  order  that  the  bees  might 
have  all  the  combs  joined  to  the  frames,  and  then 
brought  home.    This  was  another  advance  in  the 
method   of  transferring,   for  the  thousands   of 


54  BEE    HUNTING. 

young  bees  about  to  emerge  from  their  cells  were 
saved,  and  the  colony  having  its  brood  and 
strength  undiminished  should  be  able  to  fill  at 
least  one  super  of  honey  besides  all  stores  needed 
for  themselves.  Taking  it  for  granted  that  we 
cut  the  bee  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer,  one 
super  would  he  a  low  estimate,  but  even  this 
would  pay  all  expenses  connected  with  the  cut- 
ting, buying  a  hive  and  fixtures,  and  as  the  bee  is 
now  in  an  ideal  hive  we  can  hopefully  look  for- 
ward to  the  next  year  when  our  profits  are  com- 
ing in. 

There  could  be  other  plans  given,  some  of 
them  having  virtue,  but  I  will  now  lay  a  plan  be- 
fore the  reader  which  if  followed  will  prove  more 
remunerative,  and  with  less  expense,  than  the 
former  methods.  To  carry  a  hive  and  tools  neces- 
sary to  cut  a  bee  tree  will  require  the  service  of  an 
assistant  and  when,  after  a  week  or  so,  we  return 
to  bring  the  bee  home,  more  help  is  needed.  A 
man  is  worthy  of  his  hire  and  of  course  is  paid. 
Carrying  a  hive  over  rough  and  uneven  ground  is 
hard  work.  So  by  the  time  we  have  the  bee  home 
and  sum  the  matter  up,  the  financial  part  of  bee-* 
hunting  don't  impress  us  very  strongly. 


CUTTING   TREES   AND   TRANSFERRING.  55 

I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  hunting  bees  during 
the  fall  months,  but  if  I  need  a  day's  outing,  no 
month  from  early  spring,  until  late  fall  fails  to 
find   me   on  my  tramps   through   the   forest  in 
search  of  a  bee  tree.    No  difference  what  time  of 
the  year  I  find  my  bee  nor  how  many  may  be 
found  in  any  particular  season,  they  are  always 
left   stand   over   winter   and   cut   the   following 
spring,  but  not  before  May,  for  I  want  the  bee  to 
be  strong  in  bee  with  abundance  of  brood.    About 
this  time  of  year  I  take  a  box  eight  inches  square 
at  the  end  and  two  feet  in  length.    Over  the  one 
end  some  wire  screen  is  nailed  and  a  lid,  the  cen- 
ter being  cut  out  and  replaced  with  wire  screen, 
serves  as  a  covering  for  the  other  end. 

With  bucket,  ax,  and  this  box  we  will  go  to  the 
tree,  cut  it,  being  careful  to  fell  it  as  easy  as  pos- 
sible. When  it  falls  the  bees  should  be  smoked  at 
once  to  prevent  them  rising  in  the  air.  For  good 
reasons  I  prefer  to  cut  the  tree  about  nine  or  ten 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon.  After  blowing  a  little 
smoke  in  at  the  entrance,  proceed  to  chop  a  hole  in 
the  tree  low  down  on  the  side,  then  another  hole 
farther  up  or  down  the  tree,  depending  on 
whether  the  bee  works  up  or  down  from  the  place 


56  BEE    HUNTING. 

of  entrance.  After  this  is  done,  split  the  piece 
out,  blow  more  smoke  on  the  bees  and  take  the 
combs  out.  Brush  the  bees  off,  lay  them  on  the 
log  some  distance  from  the  bees,  place  the  forcing 
box  over  the  main  body  of  the  bees  and  by  brush- 
ing and  smoking  drive  them  into  it.  The  box 
should  be  in  an  elevated  position,  say  forty-five 
degrees  or  more,  as  bees  will  go  on  the  upper  end 
much  more  readily  when  the  box  is  in  this  posi- 
tion. Be  sure  the  queen  is  in,  which  can  generally 
be  determined  by  the  manner  in  which  the  bees 
enter  the  box.  If  they  are  inclined  to  run  back 
out  after  being  forced  in,  it  is  a  pretty  sure  sign 
the  queen  is  not  with  them.  When  you  are  sure 
the  queen  is  with  them,  and  there  is  a  sufficient 
number  of  bees  with  her,  lift  the  box  gently  off, 
turn  it  upside  down  and  place  the  lid  on  and 
fasten  with  a  couple  of  tacks  taken  along.  Now 
place  the  brood  combs  back  in  the  tree.  First  a 
comb  then  a  couple  of  small  sticks  crosswise  to 
form  a  bee  space.  Continue  this  until  all  the 
combs  are  back  in  the  tree,  and  as  the  top  part  of 
the  log  was  not  split  off,  the  piece  split  from  the 
side  can  be  fit  in,  bark  and  flat  stones  can  be  used 
to  form  a  covering  that  will  keep  the  rain  from 


CUTTING  TREE  AND  TRANSFERRING.  57 

getting  in.  By  cutting  the  tree  at  this  time  of  day 
thousands  of  bees  are  out  in  search  of  nectar  and 
when  they  come  home  and  find  their  home  gone, 
will  fly  around  in  the  air  until  oecoming  ex- 
hausted, and  will  then  settle  on  the  leaves  and 
bushes  in  bunches  and  knots  by  the  hundreds.  If 
there  was  any  nice  white  honey  we  have  it  in  the 
bucket  and  picking  up  the  box  start  on  the  home- 
ward journey.  Presuming  we  have  a  movable 
frame  hive  at  home  with  an  inch  of  starter  in  the 
frames  or,  what  would  be  better,  a  hive  filled  with 
comb  from  the  year  previous,  we  place  the  hive 
on  its  permanent  stand  and  take  the  lid  from  the 
box  and  shake  the  bees  down  at  the  entrance.  For 
fear  the  queen  has  been  left  in  the  tree  it  would 
be  well  to  have  an  entrance  guard  placed  on  the 
hive,  as  this  would  exclude  the  queen  and  as  soon 
as  the  queen  is  seen  the  guard  can  be  removed. 
In  a  short  time  we  can  tell  whether  they  take 
kindly  to  their  new  home.  The  queen  is  a  laying 
one  and  some  pollen  should  be  taken  in  the  fol- 
lowing day.  I  always  made  sure  I  had  the  queen 
and  never  had  a  bee  so  treated  to  swarm  out  after 
being  hived. 


58  BEE  HUNTING. 

Now  what  about  the  bee  in  the  tree?  When 
we  left  it  there  were  thousands  flying  around  and 
settling  on  the  leaves  and  bushes,  other  thousands 
in  all  stages  of  development  in  the  combs.  The 
ones  that  are  hanging  on  the  bushes  begin  to  make 
further  investigation  and  finding  their  brood  soon 
cover  it  and  with  the  bees  hatching  out  every  hour 
soon  make  the  colony  almost  as  populous  as  it  was 
before  the  tree  was  cut.  In  taking  the  combs  out 
we  may  have  seen  some  queen  cells  started.  If  so, 
so  much  the  better.  If  not,  there  certainly  were 
eggs  in  some  of  the  combs  and  in  sixteen  days  at 
the  most  they  can  rear  a  queen  from  these  eggs. 
When  this  time  has  elapsed,  take  your  box  and 
smoker.  Take  the  combs  out  as  before ;  drive  the 
bees  into  the  box,  and  as  the  brood  is  nearly  all 
hatched  out  by  this  time  you  will  have  nearly  as 
many  bees  as  you  got  the  first  time.  These  are 
brought  home  and  treated  as  the  first  swarm  and 
the  combs  can  be  placed  in  the  log  again  for  the 
few  remaining  bees  that  may  have  been  left,  to 
cluster  on  and  these  can  be  brought  home  later 
and  joined  to  the  second  swarm.  By  this  method 
you  get  two  strong  colonies  from  one  tree.  There 
is  no  help  needed;  no  neavy  lifting  and  carrying 


CUTTING    TREE   AND   TRANSFERRING.  59 

of  hives  to  and  from  the  tree.  By  following  this 
plan  you  can  soon  have  quite  an  apiary  and  be  on 
your  way  to  enjoy  the  profits  as  well  as  the  plea- 
sures of  bee  hunting.  This  plan  is  original  with 
me  and  I  believe  it  to  be  the  very  best  plan  given 
so  far,  and  I  expect  to  follow  it  until  someone 
gives  us  something  superior. 

The  profits  of  bee  hunting  will  depend  on  the 
ability  of  the  man  to  manipulate  the  bees  after 
taking  them  from  the  tree.  You  must  agree  with 
me  that  in  cutting  the  tree,  there  is  nearly  always 
some  of  the  combs  containing  honey  broken  up 
and  covered  with  dirt,  and  this  honey  can  never 
be  classed  as  salable.  Therefore,  if  we  hunt  bees 
merely  for  what  honey  may  be  in  the  tree  and 
leave  the  bees  to  perish  from  starvation  and  cold, 
it  were  far  better,  from  a  moral  and  financial 
point  of  view,  to  let  the  tree  stand. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
CUSTOMS  AND  OWNERSHIP  OF  WILD  BEES. 

There  are  customs  in  vogue  among  sportsmen 
that  have  been  handed  down  from  generation  to 
generation,  that  have  almost  become  laws.  In- 
deed, we  have  heard  it  said  that  custom  becomes 
law. 

A  hunter  may  wound  a  deer,  follow  it  for  a 
distance  and  find  that  another  hunter  has  shot 
and  killed  it.  The  question  might  arise  as  to 
whom  the  deer  belonged.  A  bee  hunter  may  find 
a  bee  tree  and  mark  it  and  some  other  hunter 
might  find  it  afterwards  and  cut  it.  The  same 
question  might  arise  as  to  whom  it  legally  be- 
longed. If  sportsmen  were  to  settle  the  disputes 
they  would  refer  back  to  custom  and  say  the  deer 
belonged  to  the  one  first  wounding  it,  providing 
the  wound  was  of  such  nature  that  the  one  first 
wounding  it  would  have  been  pretty  sure  of  get- 
ting it,  by  following  on,  and  they  would  also  de- 
cide that  the  bee  belonged  to  the  one  who  first 
found  and  marked  it. 


CUSTOMS  AND  OWNERSHIP.  61 

A  custom  that  may  seem  to  be  founded  on  jus- 
tice is  pretty  apt  to  be  followed  by  laws  that  may 
coincide  with  the  custom.  But  we  must  remem- 
ber there  are  statute  laws  relating  to  the  owner- 
ship of  wild  animals  and  bees,  and  though  we  all 
band  together  as  sportsmen,  we  cannot  abrogate 
nor  set  aside  these  laws  already  formed. 

In  my  boyhood  days,  when  I  would  find  a  bee, 
I  was  very  slow  to  tell  any  one  just  where  it  was 
for  fear  they  might  cut  it.  Was  this  true  sports- 
manship? I  think  not.  Some  other  bee  hunter 
might  hunt  for  that  bee  a  day  or  more  and  find- 
ing it  would  have  reason  to  say  that  I  had  de- 
ceived him  and  he  could  hardly  be  T)lamed  if  he 
cut  it.  I  have  been  used  just  this  very  way  more 
than  once,  and  felt  like  retaliating  by  cutting  a 
bee  that  was  found  prior  by  another  party.  But 
am  glad  to  say  that  I  never  did.  Since  I  became 
more  mature  in  years  I  have  had  more  confidence 
in  my  fellow  sportsmen  and  now  after  finding  a 
bee  tree  the  first  time  I  see  any  one  who  is  likely 
to  look  for  the  bee,  he  is  told  its  exact  location, 
thus  probably  saving  him  jnuch  valuable  time  in 
not  looking  for  a  bee  that  is  found. 


62  BEE    HUNTING. 

As  a  fitting  close  to  this  work  it  might  be  well 
to  quote  the  statute  laws  relating  to  the  ownership 
of  wild  bees. 

"Bees  while  unreclaimed,  are  by  nature  wild 
animals.  Those  which  take  up  their  abode  in  a 
tree  belong  to  the  owner  of  the  soil,  if  unre- 
claimed, but  if  reclaimed  and  identified,  they  be- 
long to  the  former  owner.  If  a  swarm  leave  a 
hive  they  belong  to  the  owner  as  long  as  they  are 
in  sight  and  are  easily  taken ;  otherwise  they  be- 
come the  property  of  the  first  occupant.  Merely 
finding  a  bee  on  the  land  of  another  and  marking 
the  tree  does  not  vest  the  property  of  the  bees  in 
the  finder.  They  do  not  become  private  property 
until  they  are  in  a  hive.'' 

This  is  a  statute  law.  But  true  sportsmen 
do  not  think  of  going  to  law  for  adjustment  of 
these  matters,  but  rather  depend  on  that  fraternal 
spirit  by  which  all  questions  relating  to  ownership 
are  settled  amicably. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SOME  OF  OUR  BENEFACTORS  AND  THEIR  INVENTIONS. 

Bee  keeping  as  a  source  of  revenue  dates  far 
back  in  ancient  history.  With  the  advent  of  the 
movable  frame  hive  and  the  increased  demand 
for  honey  all  over  the  world  as  a  source  of  food 
supply,  it  received  a  new  impetus  and  there  are 
many  bee  keepers  in  this  and  other  countries  who 
are  not  only  making  an  honest  living  in  the  pur- 
suit, but  have  become  wealthy  as  well. 

Over  half  a  century  ago.  Rev.  L.  L.  Langstroth 
invented  the  movable  frame  hive  and  became  the 
benefactor  of  the  bee-keeping  fraternity.  Prior 
to  this  time  there  was  no  way  of  telling  the  con- 
dition of  a  bee  except  what  could  be  learned  from 
an  external  diagnosis.  If  from  their  actions  we 
were  led  to  believe  the  colony  was  diseased,  or 
that  the  bee  moth  was  holding  sway,  there  was  no 
way  by  which  we  could  remedy  the  evil.  But  this 
invention  gives  us  access  at  all  times  to  the  brood 
chamber  and  we  are  able  to  see  just  what  is 
wrong  and  apply  the  proper  remedy.    Perhaps  it 


64  BEE  HUNTING. 

is  fair  to  add  that  all  bee  keepers  do  not  agree 
that  the  movable  frame  was  invented  by  Father 
Langstroth.  This  honor  is  conceded  by  many  to 
belong  to  Huber  or  Dzierzon,  German  bee  keep- 
ers. Be  this  as  it  may,  the  movable  frame  hive  of 
today,  used  throughout  America  and  many  for- 
eign countries,  is  the  product  of  the  inventive 
genius  of  this  great  benefactor  of  the  bee-keeping 
fraternity. 

The  invention  of  many  accessories  since  the 
death  of  Father  Langstroth,  many  years  ago, 
would  almost  make  us  believe  that  there  is  noth- 
ing further  to  be  desired,  that  perfection  has  been 
reached.  But  well  we  know  that  perfection  can- 
not be  reached  on  this  earth,  and  so  we  will  look 
forward,  knowing  as  time  goes  on  that  other 
great  minds  will  add  to  the  store  of  knowledge 
now  possessed  by  the  bee  keeper,  and  bee  keeping 
of  the  future  will  be  as  far  in  advance  of  the 
present  as  the  present  is  of  the  past. 

With  the  help  of  appliances  and  the  instruc- 
tion given  by  able  writers  in  many  magazines  and 
bee  papers  anyone  with  a  fair  amount  of  ability 
should  be  able  to  make  a  success  at  this  vocation. 
There  are  many  men  who,  while  they  have  proved 


BENEFACTORS  AND  INVENTIONS.  65 

to  be  benefactors  to  us,  have  at  the  same  time  be- 
come wealthy.  There  are  many  instances  of  this, 
but  I  will  mention  The  A.  I.  Root  Co.,  of  Medina, 
O.  A.  I.  Root,  the  senior  member  of  this  firm,  was 
an  apiarist  of  note  while  I  was  still  a  little  boy. 
After  a  while  he  began  the  manufacture  of  hives 
and  appliances.  He  invented  the  pound  section 
box,  the  extractor  and  many  other  accessories 
that  could  not  be  dispensed  with  at  the  present 
day.  Many  of  his  inventions  were  never  patent- 
ed, thus  saving  that  cost  to  those  whom  he  wished 
to  befriend,  and  by  honest  dealing,  selling  the  best 
of  everything  needed  by  the  apiarist  at  the  lowest 
possible  cost  consistent  with  superior  workman- 
ship, he  has  today,  the  most  extensive  manufac- 
turing establishment  in  America,  and  possibly  the 
w^orld.  In  connection,  the  firm  publishes,  ''Glean- 
ings in  Bee  Culture,"  a  monthly  magazine,  de- 
voted to  the  interest  of  bee  keeping.  The  ablest 
writers,  men  who  have  made  this  their  life  work, 
contribute  regularly  and  give  us  advice  which,  if 
followed  will  lead  to  success. 

Therefore,  when  the  bee  history  is  completed, 
and  the  names  of  many  who  have  been  our  bene- 
factors are  recorded,  the  names  of  L.  L.  Lang- 
stroth  and  A.  I.  Root  will  shine  with  lustre. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

BEEKEEPING   FOR  PROFIT. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  beekeeping  is 
quite  an  industry  in  the  United  States  and  that 
this  country  maintains  a  lead  over  all  other  lands 
both  as  to  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  honey 
it  produces.  This  is  the  case,  however,  and  Amer- 
ica is  recognized  by  other  countries  as  the  honey- 
land  par  excellence,  where  beekeepers  turn  out 
honey  by  the  carload  and  this  is  so,  for  California, 
in  one  lone  year,  produced  800  carloads,  and  of 
this  500  were  shipped  out  of  the  state.  Texas  is 
also  a  heavy  producer  and  year  in  and  year  out 
will  actually  outrank  California. 

Although  produced  in  such  vast  quantities  it 
must  not  be  inferred  that  quality  is  neglected ;  on 
the  contrary  we  cannot  be  excelled  when  merit  is 
considered.  Our  apiarists  are  scientific  to  a  very 
high  degree  and  possibly  no  branch  of  American 
farming  has  been  worked  up  to  so  great  a  pitch 
of  excellence,  only  dairying  and  horsebreeding  can 
be  compared  with  it,  but  American  apiculturists 


BEEKEEPING  FOR  PROFIT.  67 

lead  the  world,  whereas,  our  horsemen  or  dairy- 
men do  not. 

This  proud  position  is  owing  to  the  splendid 
discoveries  and  inventions  of  the  Rev.  L.  L.  Langs- 
troth  of  Oxford,  Ohio,  who  has  been  dead  for  some 
years,  but  whose  spirit  still  lives.  Previous  to 
his  time  beekeeping  was  only  an  amusement  or 
pastime,  or  more  accurately  speaking,  a  hobby. 

Now,  the  industry  is  founded  on  a  sound  scien- 
tific basis  and  bids  fair  to  grow  at  a  lively  rate  in 
the  years  that  are  to  come.  At  present,  the 
amount  of  money  invested  in  bees  and  bee  appli- 
ances is  not  less  than  one  hundred  million  dollars. 
The  annual  income  from  this  source  cannot  be 
much  less  than  $20,000,000,  and  in  a  good  year 
all  over  the  country,  it  would  approximate  $50,- 
000,000  though  it  is  very  seldom  that  there  is  a 
good  season  for  bees  all  over  this  vast  country. 
Beekeeping  is  a  branch  of  agriculture  and  like 
other  pursuits  belonging  to  that  science  there  are 
fat  years  and  lean  years.  It  is  not  an  uncommon 
event  for  a  beekeeper  to  clean  up  a  sum  of  money 
for  his  crop  which  will  more  than  equal  the  value 
of  his  bees  and  all  the  appliances  he  uses.  Other 
years  may  be  total  failures,  but  year  in  and  year 


68  BEE    HUNTING. 

out  no  industry  pays  larger  returns  on  the  labor 
and  money  expended.  The  wise  beekeeper  is  not 
deterred  by  a  bad  season  but  simply  bides  his 
chance.  He  knows  that  in  course  of  time  the  bees 
will  make  good  all  losses  and  give  in  addition  a 
handsome  profit  to  the  owner  for  his  kind  atten- 
tion and  thoughtful  consideration. 

There  are  still  many  opportunities  for  bee- 
keepers in  this  country.  This  is  particularly  true 
of  West  Virginia,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  where 
the  conditions  for  beekeeping  are  almost  ideal  and 
where,  as  a  usual  thing,  the  market  for  honey  is 
good.  All  through  the  South  there  are  openings 
for  beekeepers  and  it  will  be  a  long  time  yet  be- 
fore all  openings  are  filled.  Southwest  Texas  is 
a  sort  of  beekeeper's  paradise  and  only  a  part  of 
it  has  been  occupied  as  yet.  Arkansas  is  a  par- 
ticularly good  state  for  bees,  but  it  has  only  been 
partially  developed  by  up-to-date  beekeepers. 
Parts  of  Pennsylvania  are  open  to  good  beekeep- 
ers and  so  are  portions  of  Michigan,  one  of  the 
leading  states  of  the  Union.  Ontario  and  Que- 
bec are  excellent  for  bees  —  none  better.  Nearly 
all  the  western  states  are  good  for  bees  and  some 
of  them  rank  high  as  honey  producers.     This  is 


BEEKEEPING  FOR  PROFIT.  69 

true  of  Colorado  and  Utah.  Idaho,  Montana, 
Nevada,  Wyoming,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Wash- 
ington and  Oregon  offer  excellent  openings  for 
first-class  beekeepers.  In  the  West,  beekeepers, 
usually  select  an  irrigated  region  where  alfalfa 
and  sweet  clover  are  common,  so  that  during  the 
long  dry  summers  the  bees  are  kept  busy  storing 
honey  of  a  very  high  quality. 

Successful  beekeepers  are  found  in  every 
state,  and  it  would  be  hazardous  for  anyone  to  say 
just  what  state  is  best  for  bees.  Ohio,  Indiana 
and  Illinois  produce  large  quantities  of  fine  honey, 
but  this  is  nearly  all  consumed  within  their  own 
borders  at  fair  prices  so  that  beekeepers  do  fairly 
well. 

What  hinders  beekeeping  more  than  any 
other  fault  is  the  neglect  of  the  beekeepers  in 
not  providing  adequate  shelter  for  the  bees  dur- 
ing cold  weather,  and  also  from  the  heat  of  sum- 
mer. In  the  Northern  and  Central  states  good 
protection  must  be  provided  against  zero  weather. 
Our  bees  originally  came  from  the  tropics,  and  for 
that  reason  they  require  ample  protection.  The 
ordinary  hives  must  have  an  outer  case  placed 
around  them  and  then  leaves,  straw  or  sawdust 


70  BEE   HUNTING 

well  packed  around  them.  Fixed  in  this  way  they 
will  withstand  the  rigors  of  an  arctic  winter. 
Lack  of  adequate  winter  protection  is  the  weakest 
point  in  American  bee  culture,  and  yet  is  easily 
provided.  This  accounts  for  the  saying  of  many 
who  have  tried  it,  "Beekeeping  doesn't  pay." 
Perhaps  at  no  time  is  protection  more  necessary 
than  in  early  spring  when  the  hives  are  full  of 
young  and  tender  brood.  The  hives  may  also  be 
covered  with  layers  of  thick  paper  or  asbestos 
board.  A  small  hole  will  allow  all  of  the  fresh  air 
necessary  for  bees  in  a  state  of  sleep.  These 
points  are  first  mentioned  because  neglect  of 
them  accounts  for  most  of  the  failures  we  often 
hear  of. 

No  success  can  be  anticipated  unless  one  uses 
the  best  hives  made  on  the  Langstroth  principle. 
We  have  no  space  here  in  which  to  give  a  com- 
plete account  of  the  hives  now  made  on  that  plan. 
The  better  way  would  be  for  anyone  interested  to 
write  for  a  sample  of  "Gleanings  in  Bee  Culture" 
Medina,  Ohio,  or  to  American  Bee  Journal,  Ham- 
ilton, Illinois,  so  as  to  get  in  touch  with  the  pub- 
lishers, who  issue  books  adapted  to  the  wants  of 
beginners.     These  magazines  also   issue   supply 


BEEKEEPING  FOR  PROFIT  71 

catalogues  and  in  other  ways  are  quite  helpful. 
Splendid  books  can  be  purchased  at  a  low  price 
giving  complete  information  with  regard  to  the 
bee  industry.  Many  persons  have  learned  the 
whole  art  of  beekeeping  by  a  careful  study  of  a 
good  book  on  bee  culture  supplemented  of  course 
by  observation. 

Nothing  very  important,  however,  can  be 
learned  about  bees  unless  one  possesses  a  colony 
of  bees  in  a  movable  comb  hive.  In  fact  it  is  use- 
less to  attempt  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  bees  with- 
out a  hive  to  work  with.  I,  therefore,  earnestly 
recommend  any  beginner  to  obtain  a  colony  at 
the  earliest  opportunity.  Very  often  an  ordinary 
box  hive  can  be  secured  for  a  "song."  This  will 
do  to  begin  with.  Next  send  for  two  complete 
standard  Langstroth  hives,  a  smoker,  a  veil  and  a 
bee  book ;  also  a  swarm-catcher. 

If  the  box  hive  is  of  a  medium  size  it  will 
probably  east  two  swarms  in  spring  about  fruit- 
bloom  time  or  a  little  later.  When  the  swarms 
emerge  they  may  be  quickly  taken  down  by  means 
of  the  swarm-catcher,  if  they  happen  to  lodge  in 
a  branch  of  a  tree,  as  they  usually  do.  If  the  hives 
are  in  readiness  it  is  no  great  feat  to  safely  place 


72  BEE  HUNTING. 

the  swarms  in  their  new  homes  and  all  will  go 
well.  The  parent  colony  may  be  disposed  of  in  a 
week  or  ten  days  (not  later)  after  the  second 
swarm  issues,  by  drumming  the  bees  out  of  the 
box  into  the  hive  which  holds  the  second  swarm. 
This  is  done  by  giving  them  smoke  from  the 
smoker  and  then  battering  on  the  hive  with  a 
stick,  which  so  alarms  the  inmates  that  they  rush 
over  the  side  of  the  upturned  hive  into  the  new 
one.  What  is  left  is  simply  a  lot  of  dirty  combs 
fit  only  for  the  melting  pot.  This  is  probably,  the 
neatest,  cleanest  and  cheapest  method  of  making 
a  start  in  beekeeping.  It  is  well  within  the  abil- 
ity of  most  men  and  the  cost  is  comparatively 
small.  If  the  bees  are  native  blacks,  later  on  they 
may  be  changed  to  Italians  simply  by  purchasing 
young  pure  bred  queens  for  about  a  dollar  each. 
The  old  queens  are  killed  and  new  ones  intro- 
duced in  a  cage  till  the  bees  make  her  ac- 
quaintance, when  she  is  automatically  released. 
In  two  months'  time  very  few  of  the  original  bees 
will  be  found,  all  having  died  from  hard  work  and 
old  age,  and  their  places  taken  by  rich  golden 
yellow  Italian  bees.  It  may  be  well  to  add  this 
caution,  ''Do  not  experiment  with  any  other  race 
of  bees.'* 

D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 
North  Carolina  State  College 


IFABMING 


FUP  ^ 


trroRnATiai 

ai  CAUINC 

rVKELAEOO 

roii  psiorrr 


FUR  FARMING 

A  Book  of  Information  on  Raising  Fur-Bearing    Animals,   Telling  All 
About  Enclosures,  Breeding,  Feeding,  Habits,  Care,  Etc. 

THIS  book  is  the  recognized  authority 
on  raising  all  kinds  of  fur-bearing 
animals.  Most  of  the  questions  asked, 
or  you  may  wish  to  know,  are  answered 
fully  and  thoroughly  in  this  book.  It  is  a 
guide  for  those  who  are  contemplating  the 
raising  of  fur-bearers  for  profit,  and  its 
accurate  descriptions  of  the  animals  and 
their  habits,  when  in  the  wild  state,  make 
it    interesting    and    valuable   to    all. 

The  information  has  been  secured  from 
reliable  sources,  mainly  from  those  who 
have  already  raised  the  various  animals. 
A  part  was  also  secured  from  the  United 
States  Government  reports  of  their  investi- 
gations,   etc. 

Foxes — More  than  40   pages   are  devoted 
to    foxes.      The    business    of    handling    and 
raising    valuable    foxes    as    carried    on    in 
Canada  is  also  fully  explained. 

Mink — The  chapter  on  Mink  Raising  is  more  complete  than  in  the 
earlier  editions  and  illustrates  a  minkery  showing:  1st,  Floor  plan; 
2nd,   End   view ;   3rd,    Completed   building. 

Skunk — This  chapter  contains  35  pages  of  information  as  well 
as  eleven  illustrations.  One  of  the  illustrations  shows  skunk  skins 
and  how  they  are  graded.  Removing  scent  sacs  is  fully  explained 
and  illustrated  by  two  drawings  or  diagrams  showing  the  scent  sacs 
and  how  far  and  where  to  cut  to  expose  sacs   and  ducts. 

Chapter  Headings — Read  them  and  you  will  see  that  this  is  a 
very  practical  book,  covering  the  subject  of  Fur  Raising  or  Fur 
Farming  thoroughly.  Book  contains  278  pages,  5x7  inches,  printed 
on  good  paper,  with  49  illustrations  and  drawings,  with  16  chapters 
as    follows : 


I.  Supply  and  Demand. 
II.  What  Animals  to 
Raise.         • 

III.  Enclosures. 

IV.  Laws  Affecting  Fur 
Farming. 

V.  Box  Trap  Trapping. 
VI.  Fox  Raising, 
VII.  Fox  Raising  in 
Canada. 


IX.  Mink  Raising. 

X,  Opossum  Raising. 
XI.  Muskrat  Raising. 
XII.  Raccoon  Raising. 

XIII.  The  Beaver  and 
Otter. 

XIV.  Marten  Raising. 
XV.  Killing,  Skinning  and 

Stretching. 
XVI.  Deer  Farming. 


VIII.  Skunk  Raising. 

If  you  have  ever  thought  of  raising  fur-bearing  animals,  better 
send  for  this  book  at  once.  Maybe  after  reading  you  will  decide  to 
go  into  the  business,  for  there  has  been  money  made  at  the  business 
and  will  be  for  years  to  come  by  those  who  are  suited  to  the  indus- 
try— the  book   tells   this  and   lots  more. 

Price,  postpaid,  cloth  bound,  ^1.50 

A.  R.  HARDING,  Publisher,  COLUMBUS,  OHIO 


FERRET  FACTS  AND  FANCIES 

A  Book  of  Practical  Instruction  on  Breeding.  Raising; 
Handling  and  Selling ;  Also  Their  Use  and   Fur  Value 

ALTHOUGH  the  ferret  industry  is  still  in  its  Infancy  there  is 
a    town    in    Northern    Ohio    that    has    raised    and    sold    more 

than   a   million    dollars   worth    of   ferrets   during   the   past   fifteen 

years.  This  village  is  often  called  "Ferretville"  and  an  entire 
chapter  is  devoted  to  it,  telling  of  the 
first  raiser  in  America  as  well  as  those 
who  arc  raising  them  there  now.  The 
ferret  is  a  domesticated  wild  animal  used 
to  exterminate  rats  and  for  rabbit  hunt- 
ing. For  rats  they  are  much  used  in 
houses,  barns,  outbuildings,  levees, 
walls,  ships,  boats,  grain  elevators, 
mills,  stores  or  any  place  where  there 
are  rats.  If  rightly  used  and  handled 
there  is  no  better  or  quicker  way  to  rid 
a  place  of  the  pests.  Where  rabbits  are 
doing  an  injury  to  fruit  trees,  etc.,  fer- 
rets can  be  used  to  advantage.  They  are 
also  used  to  some  extent  on  the  large 
western  ground  squirrel,  gopher  and 
prairie  dogs.  Success  has  also  been  had 
when    using    on    mink,    skunk,    coon    and 

other   fur-bearing   animals. 

This   book  tells    how   to    raise,    train   and    use    ferrets.      Book 

contains   214   pages   and  45   illustrations.      There   are   21   chapters, 

as   follows: 


II 

III 

IV 

V 

VI 
VII 

VIII 

IX 

X 

XI 


History    and    Descrip- 

XII 

tion 

"Ferretville" 

XIII 

Hutches   and   Nests 

Barns   and    Sheds 

XIV 

Feeding  and    Manage- 

XV 

ment 

XVI 

Breeding 

Handling    and    Train- 

XVII 

ing 

Rats — Common   Brown 

XVIII 

Ferrets    and    Rats 

XIX 

Ferrets  and   Rabbits 

XX 

Ferrets     and     Ground 

XXI 

Squirrels,      Gophers, 

Prairie    Dogs 

Ferrets     and     Mink, 

Skunk,    Etc. 
Ferret       Contrivances, 

(Muzzles,    etc.^ 
Letters   From    Raisers 
The  Ferret  in  Belgium 
Ferret     Raising     in     a 

Small   Way 
Ferret     Raising     us     a 

Business 
How   to   Sell   Ferrets 
Ferrets  as  Fur  Bearers 
Ferrets— A  to  Z 
Diseases  of   Ferrets 


This  book,  FERRET  FACTS  AND  FANCIES,  shows  some 
of  the  largest  and  most  up-to-date  ferret  farms  in  America  as 
well  ^s  hutches  and  pens  of  the  small  raisers  from  photographs. 


This  book  bound  in  cloth  will  be  ssnt 


postpaid  to  any  address  for. 


$1.00 


A.  R.  HARDING,  Publisher, 


Columbus,  O. 


^^ 


HUNTING  DOGS 

Describes  in  a  Practical  Manner  the  Training,  Handling,  Treatment, 

Breeds,  Etc.,  Best  Adapted  for  Night  Hunting,  as  Well 

as  Gun  Dogs  for  Daylight  Sport. 

THIS  book  contains  253  pages,  5x7 
inches,  45  illustrations  showing  the 
various  breeds,  hunting  scenes,  etc. 
The  author,  in  his  introduction  says :  "As 
if  hunting  for  profit,  night  hunting  for 
either  pleasure  or  gain  and  professional 
hunting  had  no  importance,  writers  of 
books  have  contented  themselves  with 
dwelling  on  the  study  and  presentation  of 
matters  relating  solely  to  the  men  who 
hunt  for  sport  only.  Even  then  the  Fox 
Chase  and  Bird  Hunting  has  been  the  bur- 
den of  the  greater  per  cent  of  such  books." 

The  contents  show  the  scope  of  this 
book,  and  if  you  are  at  all  interested  in 
hunting   dogs,   you   should   have   this   work. 

This  book  is  made  up  not  only  from  the 
author's    observation    and    experience,    but  1 
that  of  scores  of  successful  night  as  weU  as  daylight  hunters. 


Part  One — Hunting  Dogs 


I. 
II. 

III. 

IV. 
V. 

VI. 


XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 


XVII. 

XX. 
XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 


Night    Hunting. 
The    Night    Hunting    Dog, 
His    Ancestry. 
Training  the  Hunting  Dog. 
Training    Coon    Dogs. 
Training    for    Skunk, 
Opossum    and    Mink. 
Wolf-Coyote   Hunting. 


VII.  Training  —  For  Squirrels 

and    Rabbits. 
VIII.  Training  the  Deer  Hound. 
IX.  Training   —   Specific 

Things    to   Teach. 
X.  Training  —  Random  Sug- 
gestions     from      Many 
Sources. 

Part  II — Breeding  and  Care  of  Dogs 

Selecting  the  Dog.  XV.  Peculiarities   of   Dogs    and 

Care    and    Breeding.  Practical    Hints. 

Breeding.  XVI.  Ailments  of  the  Dog. 
Breeding    ( Continueci ) . 

Part  III — Dog   Lore 

still  Trailers  vs.  Tongue     XVIII.  The  Dog  on  the  Trap  Line. 
Music.  XIX.  Sledge  Dogs  of  the  North. 

Part  IV— The  Hunting  Dog  Family 

American     Fox     Hound.     XXIV.  Scotch  Collies.    House  and 

The  Beagle  D?.schund  and  Watch    Dogs. 

Basset    Hound.  XXV.  A  Farmer  Hunter  —  His 

Pointers   an^   Setters —  Views. 

Spaniels.  XXVI.  Descriptive      Table      of 

Terriers-  Airedales.  Technical    Terms. 


This  book  vM  not  interest  the  field  trial  dog  men  but  is  for  tht 
real  dog  men  who  delight  in  chases  that  are  genuine. 


Price,  postpaid,  cloth  bound,  $1.00 


A.  R.  H>RDING,  Publisher, 


COLUMBUS,  OHIO 


"Land  Cruising  and  Prospecting" 

Is  a  Valuable  Book  for  Homesteaders,  Hunters,   Trappers, 
Prospectors,   Guides,  Etc, 

THE  writer,  Mr.  A.  F.  Wallace,  an 
experienced  land  surveyor,  land 
cruiser  and  prospector,  in  his  in- 
troduction says :  "To  the  men  who  fol- 
low the  compass,  the  trap  and  the  trail, 
this  work  is  inscribed.  It  is  not  in- 
tended for  the  'Professor'  who  can  tell 
you  all  about  things  after  they  are  done 
(by  someone  else)." 

This  book  contains  about  200  pages, 
5x7  inches,  is  printed  on  good  quality 
paper,  with  nearly  40  illust^ptions  and 
contains    20    chapters: 

Poor    Man's    Ore    Mill 
Prospecting    for    Fur 
Prospecting  for  Pearls 
Prospecting    for    Bees 
Rations     and     Camp 

Cookery 
Camp  Kits 
Guns,    Axes    aod 

Packstraps 
Building  Cabins,  Tan- 
ning,   Etc. 
Getting    Lost 
The    Red    River   Trap- 
per 

"A  surveyor  and  prospecto.  who  lays  claim  to  extended  ex- 
perience tells  familiarly  here,  in  a  sportsman's  vein,  of  things  of 
concern  to  hunters,  trappers,  homesteaders  and  'cruisers' — as  the 
word  is — generally.  Readably  enough  he  describes  the  practical 
use  in  the  field  of  the  chart,  the  compass,  etc.,  and  the  way  to 
locate  unapportioned  land,  valuable  strips  of  which,  he  asserts,  are 
still  accessible  to  the  proficient  home  hunter  in  various  unsus- 
pected quarters  throughout  the  Western  states,  and  shows  one 
how  best  to  go  to  work  when  attempting  to  prospect  for  gold  or 
other  ore,  for  pearls,  for  fur — even  for  the  wild  bee — concluding 
with  pointers  on  the  construction  of  cabins  and  with  advice  touch- 
ing camp  kits  and  rations." — From  Enquirer,  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 


I. 

Maps 

XI. 

II. 

The   Compass 

XII. 

III. 

Examining    and     Lo- 

XIII. 

cating 

XIV. 

IV. 

Early    Surveys 

XV. 

V. 

Corner    Marks 

VI. 

Miscellaneous       Infor- 

XVI. 

mation 

XVII. 

VII. 

Points    for     Home- 

steaders 

XVIII. 

VIII. 

Prospecting    for    Gold 

IX. 

Sampling    Ore 

XIX. 

X. 

How    to    Locate    a 
Claim 

XX. 

Price,  postpaid,  Clothbound,  $1.00. 


A.  R.  HARDING,  Pub., 


ColUiTibuS 


SCIENCE  OF  TRAPPING 

Describes  the  Fur  Bearing  Animals,  Their  Nature,  Habits 
and  Distribution,  with  Practical  Methods  of  Their  Capturec 

J      This   b9ok   contains  245  pages,    5x7   inches,   with  more   than 
^     illustrations,   many  of  which  are  full  page  of  the  various  fur 

fii    .  ^  bearing      animals,       also      several 

. — J      pages   of  tracks. 
«HjHf  »^s»<«*m  .^^^^    author,    Mr.    E.    Kreps,    in 

his  introduction  says:  "In  order 
to  be  successful,  one  must  know 
the  wild  animals  as  a  mother 
knows  her  child.  He  must  also 
know  and  use  the  most  practical 
methods  of  trapping,  and  it  is 
my  object  to  give  in  this  work, 
the  most  successful  trapping  meth- 
ods known.  These  modes  of  trap- 
ping the  fur  bearuig  animals  have 
for  the  most  part  been  learned 
from  actual  experience  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  but  I  also 
give  the  methods  of  other  success- 
ful trappers,  knowing  them  to  be 
as  good  as  my  own.  I  am  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  some  of 
the  most  expert  trappers  in  North 
America,  and  have  also  followed 
the  Indians  over  their  trap  lines,  and  in  this  way  have  learned 
many  things  which  to  the  white  man  are  not  generally  known." 
This   book   contains   twenty-four  chapters,    as   follows: 

1.  The  Trapper's  Art.  13.    The  Raccoon. 

2.  The   Skunk.  14.     The    Badger. 

3.  The   Mink.  15.    The    Opossum. 

16.  The    I>ynx. 

17.  The  Bay  Lynx  or  Wild  Cat. 

18.  The   Cougar. 

19.  The  Wolverine. 

20.  The   Pocket   Gopher, 

21.  The    Rabbit. 

22.  Tracks  and    Signs. 

23.  Handling    Furs, 

24.  Steel  Traps. 

The  chapter  on  TRACKS  AND  S'IGNS  contains  sixteen 
pages  —  eleven  of   description   and   five   of   illustrations. 

The  author  goes  into  detail^  telling  where  the  tracks  and 
signs  of  the  various  animals  are  most  apt  to  be  found.  This 
with  an  accurate  drawing  of  the  footprints,  makes  the  chapter 
on  TRACKS  AND  SIGNS  alone  worth  dollars  to  the  young 
and  inexperienced  trapper,  while  the  distribution,  nature, _  hab- 
its, etc.,  will  prove  interesting  to  all.  This  book  ^'s  rightly 
named  —  Science  of  Trapping. 

Price,  postpaid,  Cloth  Bound,  $1.00 
A.  R.  HARDING.  Pub.,  Columbus,  O. 


-J 


4. 

The 

Weasel. 

6. 

The 

Marten. 

6. 

The 

Fisher. 

7. 

The 

Otter. 

8. 

The 

Beaver. 

9. 

The 

Muskrat. 

10. 

The 

Fox. 

11. 

The 

Wolf. 

12. 

The 

Bear. 

FOX  TRAPPING 

A  Book  of  Instructions  Telling  How  to  Trap,  Snare,  Poison 
and  Shoot.     A  Valuable  Book  for  Trappers. 

THE  Author  in  his  introduction  to 
this  book  says :  If  all  the  methods 
as  explained  in  this  book  had  been 
studied  out  by  one  man  and  he  began 
trapping  when  Columbus  discovered 
America,  he  would  be  far  from  com- 
pleted. The  methods  given  in  this  book 
are  largely  from  old  and  experienced 
trappers  who  have  given  their  own  suc- 
cessful methods,  enabling  the  trapper  of 
little  experience  with  fox  to  be  like  them 
able   to   outwit. 

Trappers    who    have    caught    the    valu- 
able silver  fox  as  well  as  those  who  have 
caught    cross,    red    and    gray    have    fur- 
nished   the   Author   with    information   for 
this  book  so  that  trappers  from  any  sec- 
tion will   find  a  method  or  methods  that 
can    be   used.      The   red   fox,    however,    is 
the  one  that  most  sets  describe,  yet  what 
is  a  good  method  for  one  species  is  pretty  sure  to  be  for  the  others. 
This  book   contains   about   50   illustrations,   nearly  200  pages  and 
,  twenty-two  chapters   as   follows : 

I.  General  Information. 
II.  Baits  and  Scents. 

III.  Foxc^  and  Odor. 

IV.  Chaff  Method  Set. 
V.  Traps  and  Hints. 

VI.  All  Round  Land  Set. 
VII.  Snow  Set. 
VIII.  Trapping  Red  Fox. 
IX.  Red  and  Gray. 
X.  Wire  &  Twine  Snare. 
XL  Trap,  Snare,  Shoot- 
ing and  Poison. 
XII.  My  First  Fox. 


This  book  has  been  a  wonderful  help  to  many  in  outwitting  sly 
foxes — silver,  cross,  red  and  gray.  Some  sets  had  best  be  made  in 
advance  of  the  trapping  season  so  as  to  become  "weather  beaten" — 
old  looking. 

Price,  postpaid,  cloth  bound,  $1. 00 

A.  R.  HARDING,  Publisher, 


XIII. 

Tennessee  Trapper's 

Method. 

XIV. 

Many  Good  Methods 

XV. 

Fred  and  the  Old 

Trapper. 

XVI. 

Experienced  Trapper 

Tricks. 

XVII. 

Reynard  Outwitted. 

XVIII. 

Fox  Shooting. 

XIX. 

A  Shrewd  Fox. 

XX. 

Still  Hunting  the 

Fox. 

XXL 

Fox  Ranches. 

XXII. 

Steel  Traps. 

COLUMBUS,  OHIO 


Ginseng  and  Other  Medicinal  Plants 

*''*""'"•  -t.itH*^r.:'L"^.s«'isr.r6iri:''E'rc!'''''°-'  "•■"• 

HIS  book.  Revised  Edition,  contains  367 
pages  and  about  100  illustrations,  40  be- 
ing Gniseng,  showing  this  plant  in  var- 
ious stages  of  development,  both  cultivated  and 
wild;  also  roots  of  different  sizes  and  quality 
with  explanation  of  value,  etc.  Also  20  illus- 
trations of  Golden  Seal,  showing  plants  and 
roots  at  different  stages  of  growth.  About 
160  pages  are  devoted  to  Ginseng  and  more 
than  50  to  Golden  Seal— all  of  interest  to  grow- 
ers, diggers  and  sellers.  Some  40  other  roots 
plants  and  herbs  having  medicinal  value  arr 
shown  and  briefly  described.  The  raising  of 
not  only  GINSENG  and  GOLDEN  SEAL  (the 
wild  supply  of  which  is  nearly  gone)  but 
?ir?^s  ^s  ^e^^  are  proving  profitable. 
Ihis  book  contains  Thirty-five  chapters  as  follows: 

XVII.  Golden  Seal,  Cultivation. 
XVIII.  Golden  Seal,  History,  Etc. 
XIX.  Growers'    Letters. 
XX.  Golden  Seal  —  Govern- 
ment Description. 
XXI.  Cohosh — Black  and  Blue. 
..>XII.  Snakeroot  —  Canada  and 
Virginia. 

XXIII.  Pokeweed. 

XXIV.  Mayapple. 
XXV.  Seneca  SnaV>.eroc^. 

XXVI.  Lady's  Slipper. 
XXVIII.  Fores    Plants. 
XXVII.  Foiest  Roots. 
XXIX.  Thicket    Plants. 
XXX.  Swamn   Plants. 
XXXI.  Field  Plants. 
XXXII.  Dry   Soil   Plants. 

XXXIII.  Rich    Soil    Plants. 

XXXIV.  Medicinal  Herbs.  1 
XXXV.  Medicinal  Shrubs. 


I.  Plants   as   a   Source   of 
Revenue. 
II.  List   of   Plants   Having 

Medicinal   Value. 
III.  Cultivation   of   Wild 

Plants. 
W.  The  Story  of   Ginsen„, 
V.  Ginseng  Habits. 
VI.  Cultivation. 
VII.  Shading  and  Blight. 
VIII.  Diseases   of   Ginseng. 
IX.  Marketing   and    Prices. 
X.  Letters  from  Growers. 
XL  General   Information. 
XII.  Medicinal  Qualities. 

XIII.  Ginseng  in  China. 

XIV.  Ginseng,    Government 
Description,   Etc. 

XV.  Michigan   Mint  Farm. 
XVI.  Miscellaneous    Informa- 
tion. 


Among  the  Plants  describe'  in  Chapters  XXVII  to  XXXV  and 
which  furnish  Root  Drugs  are:  Male  Fern;  Wild  Turnip;  Skunk 
Cabbage;  Sweet  Flag;  Helonias ;  American  Hellebore;  Aletris ; 
Bethroot;  Wild  Yam;  Serpentaria  (Southern  Snakeroot);  Yellow 
Dock;  Soapwort;  Goldthread;  Oregon  Grape;  Twinleaf ;  Canada 
Moonseed;  Bloodroot ;  Hydrangea;  Indian  Physic;  Wild  Indigo; 
Crane  s  Bill ;  Stillinga  ;  Wild  Sarsaparilla  ;  Water  Ervngo  ;  American 
Angelica;  Yellow  Jasmine;  Pinkroot ;  American  Colombo;  Black 
Indian  Hemp;  Pleurisy  Root;  Comf  rey ;  Stoneroot ;  Culvers  Root; 
Dandelion ;  Queen-of-the-Meadow ;  Elecampane ;  Echinacea ;  Bur- 
dock. A  good  photograph  of  each  is  shown  with  the  description. 
Considerable  money  can  be  made  collecting  and  preparing  for  the 
market.     Thr's   book  explains. 

Price,  postpaid,  cloth  bound,  $t.2S 


A.  R.  HARDING,  Pablisher, 


COLUMBUS,  OHIO 


J 


p- 


ftUMINC: 


-^i^^ 


^»/. : 


..r-^^ 


MARDING'S 

PLEASURE  XJrf^/^^T^  ^i 
AND  PROFIT   Jt>V_>FV^XVK5 

Bee  Hunting.  80  pages        $  .35 

Science  of  Trapping,  245  pages 1.00 

Fur  Farming.  278  pages  .         1.50 

Hunting  Dogs,  253  pages 1.00 

Wolf  and  Coyote  Trapping,  252  pages. .       1.00 

Fox  Topping.   185  pages  1.00 

Mink  Trapping.  188  pages    1.00 

Deadfalls  and  Snares.  232  pages 1 .00 

Ferret  Facts  and  Fancies,  214  pages 1.00 

Steel  Traps.  3  33  pages 1.00 

Land  Cruising  and  Prospecting,  176paees  i.OO 
Camp  and  Trail  Methods,  274  pages  —  1.00 

Science  of  Fishing,  258  pages  1.00 

Canadian  Wilds,  277  cages 1.00 

A  Trip  on  The  Great  Lakes,  212  pages  ■■■  1.00 
Home  Tanning  and  Leather  Making  Guide, 

176  pages 1.00 

The  Cabin  Boat  Primer,  267  pages 1.25 

3001  Questions  and  Answers,  395  pages  1.25 
Fifty  Years  a  Hunter  and  Tripper,  318  pp.  1.25 
Ginseng  and  Other  Medicinal  Plants, 

367  pages 1 .25 

Home  Manufacture  of  Furs  and  Skins, 

285  pages.  1.50 

Home  Taxidermy  for  Pleasure  and  Profit. 

246  pages 1 .50 

Fur  Buyers'  Guide,  370  pagen 2.00 

NOTE.  Above  books  were  written  by 
those  who  from  long  experience  know  the 
Forest,  Field  and  Stream,  well  printed, 
cloth  bound,  except  Bee  Hunting,  and  all 
illustrated  excepting  Bee  Hunting,  Canad- 
ian Wilds  and  3001  Questions  and  Answers. 

PRICES.  If  two  or  more  $1.00.  $1.25  or 
$1.50  books  are  ordered  together  there  is  a 
reduction  of  10  cts.  on  each.  No  reduction 
on  Bee  Hunting  and  Fui  Bayers'  Guide. 

BOOKLET  of  32  pages  fully  describing, 
mailed  free. 

A.  R.  HARDING,  Publisher, 

Columbus,  Ohio 


FUR-FISH-GAME 

(HABDING'S  lOAGAZINE) 

A  Practical  Monthly  Publication  Especially  Devuted  to 

HUNTING,  TRAPPING.  FUR  FARMING,  FISHING. 
CAMPING,  WOODCRAFT,  ETC. 

FUR -FISH -GAME 
(Harding's  Maga- 
zine) will  greatly 
interest  you.  Why  ? 
Because  you  get 
Pleasure  from  read- 
ing about  guns,  dogs, 
rods,  reels  and  actual 
happenings  of  hunt- 
ing large  and  small 
game,  fishing,  camp- 
ing, etc.,  and  both 
Pleasure  and  Profit 
from  the  many  ar- 
ticles each  month  on 
trapping,  fur  mar- 
kets, fur  buying,  fur 
farm  ing,  medicinal 
root  growing,  etc., 
mainly  from  readers 
telling  actual  exper- 
iences. Thousands  of 
people  now  enjoy  and 
profit  each  month 
from  the  many  ar- 
ticles and  depart- 
ments about  Fur- 
Fish-Game. 

Fur  -  Fish  -  Game 
(Harding's  M  a  g  a- 
zine)  was  established 
in  1905  and  is  now 
one  of  the  largest, 
oldest,  best  and  most  reliable  publications,  of  its  kind,  in  the  world. 
The  Editor  knows  you  will  like  it  for  he  has  had  more  than  30  years 
actual  experience  with  Guns,  Game  and  Fnr  Animals,  Dog,  Traps, 
Furs,  Fish,  etc.  The  magazine  is  also  well  illustrated  with  actual 
Hunting,  Trapping,  Fur  Eaising,  Fishing,  Camping  and  other 
photographs  taken  by  its  readers  in  various  parts  of  North  America. 

SUBSCBIFTZON  PRICES 
Yearly  in  United  States,  $2.00;  Canada,  $2.25;  Foreigfn,  $3.00 

Snecia.]  Off  <=»!*    ^  ^^^  mention  "book  in  which  you  saw 
k/pcv^tai  v/ii  %zr     this  advertisement,  one  copy  10  cents. 

FUR-FISH-GAME 

(EARDIira'S  MAGAZINE) 

COLUMBUS,  OHIO,  U.  S.  A. 


\. 


